MEEKER | The Meeker High School girls wrestling team competed in the Western Slope Showdown last weekend, a two-day tournament held in Montrose, Colorado. The Cowboys brought seven wrestlers to the competition, with Head Coach Barney LeBlanc expressing his excitement over the team’s performance.
“I’m really excited about how the girls wrestled. They have made huge improvements over the past week, especially from the bottom position,” LeBlanc said.
The team finished ninth overall out of 20 teams, earning a total of 88 points. Four wrestlers placed in the tournament: Aurora Stallings claimed second, Ruth LeBlanc took fourth, and Hayden Garcia and Emma Ford each secured fifth place in their respective weight classes.
Sophomore Aurora Stallings, currently ranked third in the state in the 235-pound weight class, shared her reaction to her ranking.
“I actually had no idea I was ranked third, but hearing that really makes me motivated to keep going and to continue pushing myself,” Stallings said. “This being my first year, being ranked third just sounds unreal, but I am so, so excited and grateful.”
Junior Hayden Garcia, ranked sixth in the state at 155 pounds, placed fifth at the tournament. She reflected on her love for the sport and her drive to improve.
“I enjoy all of it. Yes, the practices might get repetitive and the pain does hurt, but without it, there’s no growth. And without growth, there’s no improvement,” Garcia said. “I’ve loved watching all of my teammates grow and learn so much from the Soroco tournament to the Western Slope Showdown, and I hope to see even more growth by the time we get to the Warrior. As for what brings me back to the mat, it’s definitely the desire to win, but even when I don’t win, I still learn something, which is still a win in my books.”
The Cowboys will compete this weekend at the Warrior Classic, another two-day tournament in Clifton, Colorado, hosted by Central High School. Coach LeBlanc emphasized the importance of each competition in the team’s growth.
“We definitely exposed some areas where we have room for improvement, and I hope that each competition allows us to learn and improve on those areas,” LeBlanc said. “This weekend is exciting as we will have a broader range of competitors and more opportunities to grow.”
After the Warrior Classic, the Meeker girls wrestling team will enjoy a short break before competing at the West Grand Tournament in Kremmling, Colorado.
By JARED HENDERSON
Aurora Stallings, currently ranked third in the state of Colorado, placed second in the Western Slope Showdown this past weekend. BOBBY GUTIERREZ PHOTO