MEEKER | The Meeker High School girls wrestling team made history this past Saturday, competing in the Warrior Classic Girls Wrestling Tournament for the first time in program history. The team brought down five wrestlers to compete in the competition on Saturday, and Head Coach Barney LeBlanc praised their performance.
“I’m super proud of all the girls,” LeBlanc said. “They have improved so much each week—it’s really exciting.”
The Cowboys finished 23rd out of 25 teams with 13 total points, facing some significant challenges along the way.
“We have had a lot of sickness, and only five of our nine girls were able to compete this weekend. None of them felt 100 percent, but I’m proud of their effort,” LeBlanc said.
The team managed to place one wrestler in the tournament on Saturday, Ruth LeBlanc, who took sixth in the 170-pound division. Ruth had an impressive first-round performance, defeating Aubree Trujillo of Central-Grand Junction. Ruth led 6-2 in the first period after two takedowns and extended her lead to 10-4 in the second with two reversals before pinning her opponent in the second period.
Head Coach LeBlanc expressed his excitement about Ruth’s accomplishment about placing in such a competitive tournament and what this means for the future of the girls wrestling program going forward.
“It’s encouraging because we know that we’re getting close to being really competitive with only four weeks of practice,” he said.
The team has shown steady improvement hroughout the season. LeBlanc highlighted individual performances from the weekend.
“Ruth has really been building her toolbox of skills, and it was awesome to see her hit her first successful fireman’s carry,” LeBlanc said. “Gracie Varner had several beautifully executed shots that she scored on, and Hayden Garcia did great on her shot defense. Brielle Lucero and Lucy Munger also did great with their shot defense.”
The Cowboys will take a short break before competing in the West Grand Tournament in Kremmling, Colorado, on Jan. 4, 2025.
By JARED HENDERSON
LeBlanc in her match against a Grand Junction Central High School opponent.
Sophomore Ruth LeBlanc placed sixth at the Warrior Classic on Saturday became the first to place in program history.
