Dutton Earns All-American Honors at NJCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships
The Colby Trojans women’s wrestling team closed out its historic season at the inaugural NJCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships, highlighted by an All-American performance from Catherine Dutton.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. - The Colby Trojans women's wrestling team closed out its historic season at the inaugural NJCAA Women's Wrestling Championships this weekend (March 6-7), highlighted by an All-American performance from Catherine Dutton.
Dutton led the way for the Trojans with a strong showing in the 207-pound weight class. Receiving a bye into the quarterfinals, Dutton opened her tournament with a victory to advance to the semifinal round and secure a top-six finish and All-American honors. She later dropped her semifinal matchup before falling in the consolation semifinals. Dutton concluded the tournament with a loss in the fifth-place match to finish sixth overall and earn All-American recognition.
Atavia Cain also put together an impressive run through the bracket. Cain picked up victories in both the round of 32 and round of 16 to advance to the quarterfinals. After a loss there, she moved into the consolation side of the bracket but was eliminated after her next match in the consolation top-eight round.
Audrie Felkins opened her tournament in the round of 32 but dropped her first bout. She rebounded with a win in the consolation bracket before being eliminated in her following consolation matchup in the double-elimination format.
Destiny Gonzalez battled back after losing her opening-round match, collecting two consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. Her run came to an end in the consolation round of eight after a hard-fought effort.
Emma Parker followed a similar path, falling in her first match before winning her next two bouts in the consolation bracket to advance into the consolation top eight. Her tournament run ended there after another competitive match.
Jazrine Nieto opened the championships with a victory in her first bout but was unable to advance further after dropping her next two matches.
Kaylen McAtee began her tournament in the round of 16 where she suffered a loss but responded with two wins in the consolation bracket to push her way into the consolation round of eight before being eliminated.
The championship event marked a milestone moment for the program as it was the first appearance at the newly established national championship tournament and the conclusion of the Trojans' inaugural season under first-year head coach Michael Ruiz. The Trojans gained valuable national tournament experience while producing the program's first NJCAA All-American performance.