Wyoming's Joe LeBlanc Named WWC Wrestler of the Week

 

Senior earns fourth weekly conference honor

 

OREM, Utah (Dec. 6, 2011) University of Wyoming 184-pound senior Joe LeBlanc (Meeker, Colo./Meeker HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week after winning a title at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this weekend. The conference award was announced Tuesday by the league.

 

LeBlanc, a three-time All-American, won his first title at the CKLV Invitational on Saturday by going 5-0 through the 184-pound bracket. He began the event by pinning Cody McAninch (Northern Colorado) and Zachariah Jimenez (San Francisco State), then won a 17-1 technical fall match over 10th-seeded Cody Magrum of Ohio State to advance to the semis. 

 

On Saturday, LeBlanc continued his dominating run by beating 10th-ranked Josh Ihnen (Nebraska) in the semifinal bout and third-ranked Steve Bosak of Cornell in the finals. The Wyoming senior was solid in the title match, defeating Bosak in a 7-3 decision.

 

With the impressive showing, LeBlanc improved his season record to 11-0 and jumped one spot in the national rankings, going from fourth to third. LeBlanc’s effort helped his Cowboy squad finish third in Vegas in the team score race behind Ohio State and Michigan.

 

LeBlanc earned the honor for the first time this season and it is the fourth of his collegiate career.  

 

The Western Wrestling Conference, which is in its sixth year of competition, is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

 

-ADC-