Women’s Wrestling Welcomes Five

COLBY, Kan. — Colby Community College has announced the addition of five accomplished high school athletes to its women's wrestling program, marking a significant step forward for the team's first season. The recruits—Destiny Gonzalez (Goodland High School), Aspen Sharpe (Colby High School), Gracyn Dombroski (Ellinwood High School), Kaylee Horinek (Wellington High School), and Julia Nunez (Ritenour High School)—will compete in their respective state tournaments on Feb. 28 and March 1 before joining the Trojans.

"The future looks bright for the Colby Community College women's wrestling team," said Head Coach Michael Ruiz. "These five athletes are sure to make an immediate impact. Welcome to the Trojan family!"

Destiny Gonzalez
A four-time regional finalist and two-time champion, Gonzalez made history as the first female wrestler from Goodland High School to reach 100 career wins. She enters the state tournament ranked No. 2 and aims to defend her 2024 title in the 140-pound weight class.

Coach Ruiz: "I am excited about Destiny. She has not only excelled in the classroom but also leads by example. Everyone I've spoken with about Destiny praises her character, and the community is thrilled to have her stay in the area a bit longer."

Aspen Sharpe
Sharpe has been a key member of the Colby High School wrestling team, qualifying for the state tournament in both of her high school seasons. Despite competing for only two years at the high school level, she has been dedicated to the sport for much longer and will join Colby Community College after graduating early.

Coach Ruiz: "Aspen may be the reason Colby Community College decided to add women's wrestling. She was telling people she was going to wrestle here even before we had a women's program! Her excitement and local support helped Colby take the leap. We expect Aspen to develop into a national-level wrestler over the next three years."

Gracyn Dombroski
Dombroski became one of the first female wrestlers from Ellinwood High School to qualify for the Kansas State Wrestling Championship in 2022. This year, she qualified again after finishing third in regionals. Gracyn enters the tournament ranked No. 5 and continues to be a pivotal force on her team.

Coach Ruiz: "Gracyn is the epitome of perseverance. She was just cleared to wrestle two weeks before regionals and not only made it through but finished third. Despite facing the top-ranked undefeated wrestler, Gracyn showed the kind of determination we value at Colby."

Kaylee Horinek
A 170-pound competitor from Wellington High School, Horinek has steadily progressed throughout her high school career, earning her second trip to the state tournament. She is expected to make an early impact at the collegiate level.

Coach Ruiz: "Kaylee was one of the first to reach out to Colby, and recruiting her was easy because she knows what she wants from the sport. She has the potential to surprise a lot of people at the state tournament, and I'm excited to watch her compete."

Julia Nunez
Representing Ritenour High School in Missouri, Nunez has won over 30 matches this season and secured a state tournament berth with a dominant district performance. Her strong work ethic is expected to translate well to the college level.

Coach Ruiz: "Julia has worked extremely hard to get where she is, and with some freestyle experience under her belt, the transition to college wrestling should be smooth. Her work ethic will drive her success at Colby."