MEEKER | The Meeker Cowboys girls wrestling team made history this past weekend, becoming the first team from their school to compete in the Colorado State Wrestling Championship. The Cowboys qualified four athletes and took three to the tournament, led by junior Emma Ford (130 lbs), freshman Abigail Amick (145 lbs), and sophomore Ruth LeBlanc (170 lbs).
Starting a new program comes with challenges, but Head Coach Barny LeBlanc helped pave the way for this historic season. One of the biggest hurdles was coordinating practice schedules while sharing space with other athletic programs.
“It was challenging to figure out our practice schedule with all the athletics going on,” LeBlanc said. “For the girls, learning the basics of wrestling having never done it, they blew my expectations out of the water.”
As the season progressed, the Lady Cowboys improved significantly through tournaments and duals. LeBlanc praised his team’s dedication and resilience.
“These girls are amazing in their ability to learn, and their effort level is off the charts,” he said. “They are exceptionally encouraging to one another and a great joy to be around.”
At the state tournament, the Lady Cowboys showcased their determination in front of a packed Ball Arena in Denver. In the first round, Ford and Amick fought hard, while LeBlanc made history in the 170-lb weight class, becoming the first Meeker wrestler to secure a victory at the state tournament.
LeBlanc entered the tournament with a 29-12 record and faced Malia Martinez Castro from Monte Vista High School in the opening round. She controlled the match from the start, securing an early takedown and maintaining her lead before pinning Martinez in the second period. With that victory, LeBlanc advanced to the quarterfinals.
Her quarterfinal match was a close battle, ultimately ending in a 5-3 loss, sending her to the consolation bracket. LeBlanc reflected on her toughest match of the tournament, which secured her spot on the podium.
“The match to secure my spot on the podium was the toughest, not because of the physical challenges but the mental game,” LeBlanc said. “I overcame that challenge by trusting in God and knowing that He holds the outcome.”
Facing Isabella Lopez from Olathe High School, LeBlanc dominated the match, winning 11-2 and guaranteeing a place on the podium. The emotional moment hit her immediately.
“I was ecstatic. It was very emotional—I would randomly start to cry. I’m so grateful for my team, community, and coaches for helping me achieve such an exciting goal,” she said.
LeBlanc credited her preparation, both mentally and physically, as key factors in her success. She also acknowledged the influence of her father and uncle, Joe LeBlanc, who helped her and her teammates develop their technique throughout the season.
In the semifinal consolation round, LeBlanc faced Carly Larsen from Strasburg High School, winning 9-6 to advance to the third-place match. She then competed against Malie Manfre from Englewood High School, ultimately finishing in fourth place at 170 lbs in Class 4A.
Her fourth-place finish marked a historic achievement as she became the first Lady Cowboy to place at the state tournament in school and program history. LeBlanc hopes her performance will inspire future female wrestlers at Meeker High School.
“Above all, I hope they see the work of God in my life,” she said. “I want all the other girls in the Meeker Girls Wrestling program to know that the amount of work you put into wrestling, you will get out. Hard work pays off. ”
Coach Barny LeBlanc is already looking ahead to the future, hoping to build on this season’s success.
“We’re excited to have all the girls back and to start at a much more advanced level,” he said. “I’m going to help with the junior high program, and we’re excited to have 10 young ladies out for it. We’re also planning off-season wrestling tournaments and training with the state champion Phoenix girls, whose coach, Chad Dare, has been an amazing resource for us.”
LeBlanc reflected on the team’s overall performance at state and the rapid progress they’ve made in their inaugural season.
“I was pleased with how our girls wrestled. Emma Ford had an extremely tough weight class and lost to the state champ. Abi Amick also lost to the state champ but was able to pin her second opponent. Ruth won her first match, then lost to the state champ, then won three matches to place fourth,” he said. “I’m blown away that these girls are competing at this level after just two and a half months, going up against athletes who have been wrestling their whole lives.”
