No. 7 Women's Wrestling Embrace National Challenge at NJCAA Duals

After a strong showing at the York College Open, the Colby Trojans women's wrestling team now turns its focus to one of the most important events of the season, the 2026 NJCAA Coaches Association National Duals, set for Saturday (Jan. 24) at Snow College in Utah.

The National Duals mark a significant milestone for the Trojans, as the program competes in the event during its inaugural season. Colby enters the weekend with a 1-7 dual record, earning its first program victory earlier this season against Midland University, but the record tells only part of the story. Saturday's event offers a valuable opportunity for Colby to gain national exposure, measure itself against elite competition, and continue building momentum as a first-year program on the national stage.

Colby will be one of 14 teams competing in the Coaches Association Duals, joining a strong field that includes Iowa Central, Southeast Nebraska, Umpqua, Hawkeye, Southwestern Oregon, Carl Albert, Iowa Lakes, Northern Oklahoma, Murray, Big Bend, Fort Hays NWKT, and Trinidad State. The event brings together programs from across the country, many of whom will be facing each other for the first time this season.

The Coaches Association Duals play a critical role in the NJCAA postseason landscape. Designed to provide the NJCAA ranking committee with key head-to-head data, the event helps determine national rankings and seeding for the NJCAA National Tournament later in the year. Unlike traditional bracket-style tournaments, this year's duals will feature pool-style competition, with each pool winner advancing to the championship bracket to determine overall placement.

The Trojans head into the weekend encouraged by their most recent performance at the York College Open, where Colby collected two individual championships and multiple podium finishes. Catherine Dutton (207 pounds) and Destiny Gonzalez (138 pounds) each claimed titles, while several others gained valuable match experience against nationally ranked opponents.

Competition will take place across four mats, with live streaming and scoring available on FloSports, allowing fans to follow the Trojans throughout the day.