MEEKER I Dubbed ‘the toughest tournament in the United States,’ the Reno Tournament of Champions gave University of Wyoming Cowboy wrestler Joe LeBlanc his first loss of his senior season.
LeBlanc entered the tournament undefeated, ranked No. 3 in the country by Intermat Rankings in the 184-pound division with 12 wins.
LeBlanc won three matches to advance to the title match against Chris Perry of Oklahoma State.
The score was tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation then 2-2 at the end of the first of three overtime periods. Neither wrestler was able to score a takedown in the entire match and Perry escaped for one point in the second overtime while not allowing LeBlanc an escape to win the match 3-2.
The Cowboys finished second as a team to Oklahoma State.
The most recent Intermat Rankings kept LeBlanc at No. 3 and moved Perry to No. 2 before the Christmas break.