All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
2025 CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Ball Arena.
Ball Arena hosted the 2025 CHSAA State Wrestling Tournament Feb. 13-15, where 1,300 athletes competed across boys and girls divisions. The boys' tournament featured over 900 wrestlers from more than 200 schools, competing in four classifications: 2A (56 schools), 3A (49 schools), 4A (47 schools), and 5A (51 schools).
Wrestlers fought across 14 weight classes, from 106 to 285 pounds, in Niwot High School's 4A division.
The tournament proved challenging for Niwot High School's three state qualifiers, who all saw their runs end early in the competition. Despite bringing strong regular-season records to the tournament, the Cougars struggled to find their footing against top-tier opposition.
At 144 pounds, Niwot's Ryder Evans (23-9) faced a difficult draw, falling to Severance High School's Reed Green in the first round after a hard-fought match that extended into the third period before Green secured the pin at 4:32. Evans' tournament ended in the consolation round with a 10-1 major decision loss to Canon City High School's Eli Staffa.
Eli Quesada (21-11), competing at 165 pounds, met a similar fate against Mountain View High School's Tristan Gilbert, who secured a quick pin at 1:35 in the opening round. Quesada's consolation match against Severance's Jake Mitchell ended in a 17-8 major decision loss, eliminating him from the tournament.
In the heavyweight division, Jonathan Lopez (3-5) showed determination against a challenging bracket. Discovery Canyon High School's Jude Suhajda, who would go on to place fourth in the tournament, defeated Lopez by fall at 3:13 in the opening round. Lopez's tournament concluded with a competitive 6-2 decision loss to Palmer Ridge High School's Dylan Yanovich in the consolation bracket.
Pueblo East High School won the 4A team state title for the third time in four years, easily outpacing runner-up Roosevelt High School.
The tournament marked the end of the season for NHS and highlighted the depth and competitiveness of Colorado's wrestling.
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