Lady Eagles Earn Seventh at Younes Hospitality Duals Behind Hoover’s Outstanding Effort
January 23, 2026
The Colby High School Lady Eagles made the trip north to Kearney, Nebraska on January 23 to compete in the Younes Hospitality Duals, a demanding girls dual tournament that featured a deep field of programs from across Nebraska and the surrounding region. Battling through a full day of duals, Colby finished seventh overall and came away with several strong individual performances that underscored the team’s depth and competitiveness.
Colby opened the tournament with a convincing 54-21 victory over Minden, setting the tone early with aggressive wrestling and bonus-point wins throughout the lineup. That momentum carried into the bracket rounds, where the Lady Eagles faced Millard West, Sedgwick County/Fleming Girls, and Columbus before closing the day with a strong win in the seventh-place match. Colby capped the tournament by defeating Columbus 39-30 to secure seventh place overall in the team standings.
Leading the way for Colby was Faith Hoover at 125 pounds, who delivered a dominant performance on her way to being named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. Hoover finished the day with four wins, all by fall, spending just 8 minutes and 43 seconds total on the mat. Her ability to score quickly and decisively provided a major spark for the Lady Eagles in every dual, and her consistency against multiple opponents stood out in a field filled with experienced competitors.
Several other Colby wrestlers also posted four-win days, highlighting the balance across the lineup. At 155 pounds, Dallis Stieben put together an impressive tournament, earning four victories that included multiple pins against quality opposition. Stieben’s success was especially important in close duals, as she repeatedly delivered bonus points that helped swing team momentum in Colby’s favor.
Morgan Hills was another key contributor, collecting four wins during the tournament. Wrestling with confidence, Hills picked up victories in several crucial dual moments, including wins in both early-round action and later placement matches.
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Lux Vrbas also reached the four-win mark, contributing across multiple duals with a mix of falls and dominant technical performances. Vrbas’ consistency helped stabilize the lower end of the lineup and added to Colby’s ability to stay competitive against larger programs.
Additional contributors added depth to the Lady Eagles’ effort. Adrian Salcido picked up key wins at 100 pounds, including falls and forfeits in multiple duals. Gala White earned victories at 115 pounds, highlighted by a hard-fought ultimate tiebreaker win against Columbus. Annabell Zerr collected a fall in the seventh-place match, while Makenzi Rhymer, Alana Fabrizius, and Heidi Gray each contributed points throughout the tournament.
As a team, the Lady Eagles demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from setbacks and finishing the tournament strong. The experience gained against high-level competition at the Younes Hospitality Duals provides valuable preparation as Colby continues its season and looks ahead to postseason competition. With multiple wrestlers delivering standout performances, the Lady Eagles left Kearney with momentum and confidence moving forward.