Autumn Ibarra scored 16 goals and dished out nine assists in 15 games her sophomore year.

In six games as a junior, Ibarra has 10 scores and nine more assists.

All while battling a groin injury Ibarra suffered before Widefield’s first game of the year.

“It was right out of the gate,” Widefield coach Christian Grady said. “We had an early season practice where she got hit and landed on it wrong. But she’s the captain of our team for a reason. She’s tough and she earned that title before I got here. She got tasked with that as a freshman.”

This week’s Peak Performer is the embodiment of Widefield’s mascot as the Gladiators junior continues to battle through pain to help the girls on the pitch.

Ibarra notched hat tricks in back-to-back matches and finished with four goals against Pueblo East and netted three more against Ellicott in the Gladiators’ sixth consecutive win.

Her strike against Ellicott gave Ibarra 40 for her career and puts the junior 10 goals away from 50, which is like scoring 1,000 points in boys or girls basketball.

“I’ve seen Autumn work very hard since our freshman year and she deserves the recognition,” Ibarra’s teammate Dasia Rojas said. “I’m proud and honored to be one of her teammates. Even though she’s had limitations this year with her groin injury, she’s still playing just as hard. You can’t tell she’s hurt.”

Ibarra’s grit doesn’t surprise Grady.

Grady’s coaching career began nearly a decade ago with recreational soccer. Grady met Ibarra on the first team he coached when she was an adolescent and said she’s maintained that passion.

“She’s still a firecracker and she’s still the competitor that she was back then,” Grady said. “When she was little, you could see her potential. When she was a kid, I went to her mom and said, ‘If she sticks with this, she’s going to be something special.’ She’s a strong-willed competitor and doesn’t take a day off and it still shows.”

Ibarra’s tenacity remains even through injury. Even if it’s accompanied by push back.

“My athletic trainer is trying to get me to ease up a little bit,” Ibarra said. “I went out on the field and shot even when (my groin) was still a little bit injured. We’re trying to dial it back, but our team is such a force this year. If I get more time off, it’ll heal more.”

This is new territory for the Gladiators and Ibarra said she wants to continue to elevate the team.

The Gladiators’ 6-0 record isn’t just their best start to a season – it’s tied for their most wins in school history. Per MaxPreps, Widefield finished 6-9 in 2019.

Two more victories for the Gladiators will give Widefield eight for the year, which would notch its first-ever winning season.

“Autumn has been really aware of her teammates this year and has really helped push us in practice and in games,” Rojas said. “We’re really thankful for this and excited to see what else we can accomplish.”

As is Ibarra, who knew the team would improve from its 4-10-1 finish in 2023, but couldn’t fathom an undefeated start.

“It feels amazing to be here right now and see the growth of what we’ve gone through from my freshman year until now,” Ibarra said. “We’ve gotten so much better with this team and it feels amazing to have this great of a start.”