Fleming Lady Wildcats Claim Third Place at 1A State Tournament

Fleming's Lady Wildcats closed their 2025-26 season with a third-place finish at the Colorado Class 1A state tournament, dismantling Springfield 74-37 in the consolation game on March 14. The lopsided margin was a fitting exclamation point on a nine-game winning streak that carried the program deep into the postseason.

That run began after a Feb. 12 loss, the Wildcats' last defeat of the season. From there, Fleming knocked off No. 28 Lone Star 62-35, then topped No. 12 Idalia 48-38 before taking down No. 4 Stratton 50-42, a win that punched the ticket to the Class 1A Final Four. The Springfield blowout sealed the podium finish and a final record of 21-6.

Coach Kirkwood credited the senior class for the depth that made the run possible. "They were a very talented group," Kirkwood said. "It's probably as talented a class as I've had in a while. We had just a little bit of everything. We had some really good guards, we had some size, we had some shooters. We had some defenders, and that's the biggest reason why we had success, is they were pretty versatile."

That senior class, which will now move on from the program, included Lousberg, Schaefer, Bornhoft, Quincy Stull and Sienna Donnelson. Schaefer led the team in scoring for the season at 14.9 points per game, with Lousberg close behind at 11.9. Hadley Stull was also a visible presence on the floor, driving the court during the Springfield win.

The five departing seniors are credited with helping transform the Fleming program over the past several years, and their final campaign delivered a result that few Class 1A programs reach: a spot on the state podium.