Lady Eagles Grind to Strong Finish at Rocky Welton Girls Invitational
January 30, 2026
The Colby High School Lady Eagles faced one of the most demanding tests of the season as they traveled to Garden City for the 5th Annual Rocky Welton Girls Invitational at the Garden City SportsPlex. Widely regarded as one of the toughest girls tournaments in the region, the Rocky Welton Invitational consistently draws elite programs from multiple states, creating a level of competition that often surpasses what athletes see at state tournaments. Against that backdrop, Colby delivered a strong, resilient performance, finishing fourth as a team in a loaded field.
Colby accumulated 163 team points to secure fourth place, trailing third-place Pueblo Central by just 5.5 points. Garden City claimed the team title with 263.5 points, followed by Kearney at 204.5, underscoring the depth and quality of the field assembled in Garden City.
Leading the way for the Lady Eagles was Morgan Hills, who turned in a dominant championship run at 135 pounds. Hills wasted little time throughout the day, pinning Stockton’s Mia Odle in just 55 seconds to open the tournament. She followed with another decisive fall over Scott City’s Brodi Speer late in the first period, then continued her march by pinning Bellevue East’s Makaela Davis in the semifinals. In the championship bout, Hills closed the show by securing a first-period fall over Wichita East’s Jalaya Gibson, capping a flawless day and providing a major boost to Colby’s team total.
Dallis Stieben added another highlight for Colby with a runner-up finish at 155 pounds. After receiving a first-round bye, Stieben powered through the bracket with pins over Hutchinson, Holcomb, and Goddard to reach the finals. There, she ran into Dodge City’s Yareli Garcia, who ultimately claimed the title by fall. Stieben’s second-place finish was a key factor in Colby’s fourth-place team result.
Senior Makenzi Rhymer also played a pivotal role, grinding through six challenging matches at 170 pounds to earn a fourth-place finish. After opening with a pin over Pine Creek, Rhymer dropped a quarterfinal match before battling back with three straight wins on the consolation side, including a pin and two decisions. Her run ended in the consolation finals against Olathe North’s Zjedai Royal Bey, but her perseverance and consistency stood out in a stacked bracket.
Alana Fabrizius continued Colby’s momentum with a fifth-place finish at 190 pounds. After an early loss to an undefeated opponent, Fabrizius rebounded with a major decision over Olathe North and eventually secured fifth place via medical forfeit, adding valuable points to the team score.
Colby also saw solid contributions across the lighter and middle weights. Adrian Salcido finished seventh at 100 pounds, going 3-2 on the day with two major decisions and a pin, including a fall over Pine Creek’s Abby Herrera. Lux Vrbas battled through a demanding 105-pound bracket to place 10th, earning four wins highlighted by three pins and a major decision. Gala White placed eighth at 115 pounds with two pins, while Faith Hoover finished seventh at 120 pounds with three pins across the tournament. Heidi Gray collected three pins at 125 pounds on her way to a 10th-place finish.
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First-year wrestlers Josalyn Boyson and Annabell Zerr gained valuable experience against high-level competition, with Boyson showing grit on the backside of the 130-pound bracket and Zerr battling through two tough matches at 145 pounds.
Overall, Colby’s fourth-place finish at the Rocky Welton Invitational reflected both depth and determination. Competing against some of the best programs from Kansas and beyond, the Lady Eagles proved they can contend on a big stage, gaining confidence and momentum as they continue toward the postseason.