MEEKER | The Meeker girls wrestling team delivered a strong weekend, earning multiple individual championships at the Ladies Canon Classic and the Valley Classic and capturing the team title at the Valley Classic.
At the Ladies Canon Classic in Canon City, junior Ruth LeBlanc won her weight class to continue her strong season. Senior Emma Ford placed third as Meeker finished 18th out of 41 teams.
Head coach Barny LeBlanc said the team’s mindset stood out during the opening tournament.
“It was encouraging to see how we mentally prepared for our matches,” LeBlanc said. “We did a good job of overcoming fear.”
Meeker carried that momentum into the Valley Classic the following day, winning the team championship with 53 points. Several Cowboys reached the podium, showcasing depth across the lineup.
Ruth LeBlanc earned another first-place finish. Sophomore Abigail Amick and freshman Maite Camargo each claimed individual championships, while freshman Adailin Valenzuela and sophomore Ellie Ford placed second. Sophomore Lorilei Davis finished third, and Emma Ford added a fourth-place finish to round out Meeker’s scorers.
Coach LeBlanc credited the team’s culture and balance for the Valley Classic title.
“The culture of support and camaraderie they’ve built is fun to be a part of,” he said. “It’s good to see how much they’ve improved over the past year.”
Ruth LeBlanc said leadership within the lineup is built through example and encouragement.
“Being an upperclassman, a lot of the girls look up to us,” she said. “I try to lead by example and remind them of the things we’ve worked on and their abilities.”
Freshman Maite Camargo said her success has come from daily focus and steady progress.
“I believe consistent progress each day leads to results,” Camargo said. “When I adjust my mindset, it opens up more opportunities.”
Camargo said individual effort contributes to the team’s overall success and motivation.
“How I perform influences everyone around me,” she said. “Success is a decision we make every day.”
Coach LeBlanc said the weekend reflected growth in pressure situations, an emphasis throughout the season.
Meeker returns to action Tuesday on the road against Moffat County before hosting its home tournament Saturday, Feb. 7, at 8:30 a.m. The meet will give the Cowboys an opportunity to compete at home ahead of the regional tournament the following weekend.
Back row, from left to right: head coach Barny LeBlanc, Emma Ford, Ellie Ford, Ruth LeBlanc, Lorilei Davis, Jenna Pelloni, Adailin Valenzuela and Clea Steerman. Front row, from left to right: Abigail Amick and Maite Camargo pose with the team’s first-place plaque after Meeker captured the team title at the Valley Classic Tournament this past weekend.