Gia Gabel is the hardest worker in the room.

It doesn’t matter the facility or who’s around, the proof is in the results for the Pine Creek 110-pound girls wrestler.

Gabel defeated Cañon City’s reigning 4A state champion Piper Montoya at last weekend’s Colorado Springs Metro Wrestling Championships at Trojan Arena in Fountain. This week’s Peak Performer finished the tournament 4-0 and helped the Eagles girls win back-to-back Metro team titles.

“Last year after the state tournament she was in the wrestling room training three or four days per week,” Billy Gabel, Eagles boys wrestling coach and Gabel’s father, said. “She’s weight training, she’s a disciplined eater and she’s focused. She’s put a lot of time into training her mind, body and soul. She’s in her Bible constantly and trying to be the hardest worker she can. From a coach’s perspective … she’s the hardest worker in the room. Guys and girls.”

That’s not just bravado from a proud father. Pine Creek girls coach Johnny Lopez doubled down on Billy’s sentiments.

“I guarantee if you lined up my girls and asked, ‘Who’s the hardest worker?’ They’d all tell you it’s Gia. No doubt in my mind,” Lopez said. “She’ll stay late and continue to work. If she needs to stay late to cut weight or do cardio, she’ll stay. This is a big jump from her freshman year.”

Gabel entered high school as a champion gymnast but transitioned to wrestling and Lopez said her freshman season “was a rough year.”

The Eagles junior competed for Discovery Canyon as a freshman, ended that season 26-11 and did not place at state.

Last year as a sophomore, Gabel improved to 36-6 and finished fifth at state at Ball Arena in her first year with Pine Creek’s wrestling team. Gabel currently owns a 21-4 record and earlier this year, at the inaugural Ice Queen tournament, acquired the 110 title.

“I always tell myself that I’m the hardest worker and I don’t cut corners on the mat or at practice or with anything,” Gabel said. “With the mental aspect, I put most of my trust in God and when I want to quit, I tell myself that this is something I really want and those are the times I have to push the hardest. This year I’ve been working my butt off.”

Gabel’s focus and hustle have turned cumbersome moments into areas of triumph. At last week’s Vista Ridge Alpha Female Tournament, Montoya handed the Eagles’ wrestler her fourth loss of the year.

Montoya executed her game plan and Gabel said “I didn’t wrestle smart,” which led to a 10-3 decision for the Tigers’ competitor.

“After going over the match, I knew I had the potential to beat her,” Gabel said. “I just needed to wrestle to the best of my ability. I know she’s really good on top and I gave up a lot of things she used to her advantage. I didn’t wrestle to the best of my abilities.”

Gabel cruised to first-period pins in her first round and quarterfinals matches and faced Discovery Canyon’s Presley Pulido in the semifinals. Pulido defeated Gabel in the finals last year at Metros, but Gabel won 5-3 this year to defeat the Thunder sophomore for the second time this season.

In the finals against Montoya, Gabel secured a pin with 25 seconds left in the third period after battling to snag the advantage and match from the Cañon City star.

The Eagles didn’t just leave with team titles on the girls’ and boys’ side, but Gabel earned the tournament’s most outstanding girls wrestler.

“It was like watching my own daughter,” Lopez said. “I’ve known Piper for a long time and she’s taken it to some of the best wrestlers. … Piper’s not a pushover and for (Gabel) to lose last week and not be down about it is what we love to see. We sat down, talked about what we could do to improve and she went out there and did it.”

The slew of achievements “were an honor,” but Gabel hopes that’s not the final achievement of the season. As regionals and state approach, Gabel wants to carry this momentum to Ball Arena in February.

“Winning this tournament has helped me realize I do have the capability to win the state title,” Gabel said. “This drives me to keep pushing through regionals and through state. Sometimes people win a tournament and they hold back because they feel they’re already there. For me, this was one step closer to my ultimate goal and I’m going to keep giving it my all to reach it.”