MEEKER | The Meeker High School Girls Wrestling team made school history last Saturday, competing in their first-ever tournament. Participating in the Soroco tournament at Soroco High School, the team marked a significant milestone for the growing program.
Head Coach Barny LeBlanc expressed pride and satisfaction with his team’s debut.
“Praise God for protecting the girls and for prospering their way,” LeBlanc said. “It was excellent to see the girls compete and very exciting to see their hard work and learning experiences pay off.”
Though LeBlanc admitted to some pre-tournament anxiety due to uncertainty about the level of competition that the team was going to face that day, he was thrilled with the team’s performance that day.
“Their willingness to be coachable and their ability to apply instruction in real time far exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I am proud of each one of them.”
The team achieved an impressive second-place finish, earning 88 team points. LeBlanc credited the team’s early success to their dedication and preparation in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
“The girls’ hard work and excellent attitudes over the last three weeks really paid off.” He highlighted several standout performances, including Emma Ford and Aurora Stallings.
“Emma Ford did a great job executing the techniques she chose to pursue, and Aurora Stallings gutted out a tough decision where she was down by four points but came back to win the match,” LeBlanc said.
Sophomore Stallings, who captured first place in the 235-pound bracket, shared her thoughts on the competition and what it took to secure the first place victory.
“Winning my first match by pin was incredibly motivating,” Stallings said. “The second match was exhausting—my opponent and I wrestled hard every period. Down on points in the final period, I focused on escaping from the bottom and took the lead 7-4 in the last 45 seconds. Winning that match despite the challenges was a huge confidence boost.”
Stallings also reflected on what motivates her to wrestle. “I never expected to win, but it’s amazing. Success motivates me, and it makes me want to continue in this sport,” she said. “With this being my first year and tournament, I wanted to use it as a learning opportunity to figure out what works for me and what doesn’t. I was really excited and knew that no matter what happens, I know I should continue to push myself and learn.”
Several Meeker wrestlers delivered notable performances:
● Kalee Ivy (freshman): third place, 120-pound bracket.
● Brielle Lucero: fourth place, 125-pound bracket.
● Lucille Munger: fourth place, 130-pound bracket.
● Emma Ford: first place, 135-pound bracket.
● Gracie Varner: fifth place, 140-pound bracket.
● Hayden Garcia: third place, 155-pound bracket.
● Ruth LeBlanc: second place, 170-pound bracket.
● Aurora Stallings: first place, 235-pound bracket.
As a new team, inexperience presented the biggest hurdle, but the wrestlers demonstrated resilience and determination.
The team’s second-place finish out of 12 teams exceeded the coaching staff’s expectations and sets a solid foundation for the future of the program.
“I would like to thank their parents for instilling high character in their girls,” LeBlanc said. He is optimistic about the team’s potential for growth and success as they prepare for the Western Slope Showdown in Montrose.
“The girls had some success, and they all learned,” LeBlanc said. “I am super grateful that this is our zero. The girls will grow in knowledge and skill, and I am excited to see where they are at the end of the season.”
LeBlanc also expressed gratitude for the support from his coaching staff, volunteers, and the community.
“I want to thank assistant coaches Clea Steerman, Adrianna Price, and Ben Quinn, as well as volunteers Kelly LeBlanc, Steve Gianinetti, and Cisco Lucero,” he said. “They all love these girls and bring a diversity of character and skill into our room.”
By JARED HENDERSON
Meeker freshman Kalee Ivy, who was Meeker’s first wrestler to wrestle in the 120-pound bracket and made Meeker High School Girls Wrestling history by pinning Serena Romero, a sophomore from Soroco. BOBBY GUTIERREZ PHOTO