MEEKER | The Meeker High School girls wrestling team made history this past weekend by competing in its first-ever regional tournament. The event determined which wrestlers advance to the Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships at Ball Arena this weekend.
The Cowboys sent seven wrestlers to the regional tournament, all of whom placed. Leading the team was sophomore Ruth LeBlanc, who took second place at 170 pounds. She was followed by sophomore Aurora Stallings (235), who placed third, and Abigail Amick (145) and Emma Ford (130), who each finished fourth. Gracie Varner (140) placed fifth, while Hayden Garcia (155) took sixth, narrowly missing state qualification.
Meeker will be represented at the state championships by junior Emma Ford (130), sophomore Ruth LeBlanc (170), sophomore Aurora Stallings (235), and freshman Abigail Amick (145).
“It feels great. I’m super proud of the girls. They all wrestled really hard, and God provided richly for the four that made it,” head coach Barny LeBlanc said.
Meeker finished ninth overall in the regional tournament, scoring 67 points against 16 other teams. LeBlanc credited the team’s rapid improvement to focusing on fundamentals.
The team’s success in its inaugural season marks a significant milestone for Meeker athletics. LeBlanc believes the achievement will inspire future generations of girls to take up the sport.
“I think it will go a long way in encouraging other athletes to step onto the mat, and we’re super excited for these girls’ continued growth,” he said.
The team departs for the Colorado Wrestling State Championships on Wednesday, with competition beginning Thursday morning and running through Saturday evening.
