By Madison Shaw
Originally published in the Left Hand Valley Courier on February 18, 2026.
Eli Quesada pins Riverdale Ridge's Jayden Perez during the Class 4A Region 2 tournament Feb. 13 at Niwot High School. Quesada secured the fall in 28 seconds and later qualified for the state tournament. (Madison Shaw/Left Hand Valley Courier)
With state berths on the line inside their own gym, the Niwot High School Cougars wrestled through two days of postseason competition at the Class 4A Region 2 tournament Feb. 13-14.
Facing a 14-team field, Niwot came away with one state qualifier as senior Eli Quesada secured a second-place finish at 165 pounds.
After a first-round bye, Quesada, the No. 1 seed in his weight class, opened his quarterfinal round with a statement performance against Riverdale Ridge High School’s Jayden Perez. Just 28 seconds into the match, Quesada lifted Perez off the mat, drove him down, and secured the pin.
He followed that performance the next morning with a 15-2 major decision over Summit High School’s Tom Hoffman to advance to the championship match. In the finals, Quesada faced Mead High School’s Liam Kelly, the tournament's No. 2 seed. Kelly secured a pin with seven seconds remaining in the first period, but Quesada’s runner-up finish clinched a spot at the Class 4A state tournament.
The state championships will take place Feb. 19-21 at Ball Arena in Denver. Quesada, the tournament’s No. 7 seed, will wrestle Thursday, Feb. 19 evening against Pueblo East High School’s Logan Trujillo, the No. 10 seed.
The trip marks a return to state for Quesada, who only began wrestling last year as a junior. Last season, also at 165 pounds, he was eliminated after a first-round loss and a consolation defeat. This year, he heads back with more experience and another opportunity on wrestling’s biggest stage.
“Just starting (to wrestle) last year and qualifying for state was definitely a surprise,” Quesada said. “But this year, it was definitely a goal to go back and place even higher at regionals.”
After falling short at state last season, Quesada said the experience became motivation rather than discouragement.
“It wasn’t my plan to go 0-2, but it was my first year,” he said. “I’m glad I got the chance to see how the tournament is run and get the experience of wrestling at Ball Arena. This year, I feel prepared.”
Quesada added that his goals have evolved as the season progressed.
“At the beginning of the year, my goal was to win a match at state,” he said. “As I placed at more tournaments, I started to feel like I have an opportunity to place at state.”
Though finishing second at regionals may affect his seeding, Quesada said the objective remains unchanged.
“Not winning my region will make that goal a little trickier, but it’s still something I can achieve.”
For the Cougars, hosting regionals added both energy and pressure. Wrestling on familiar mats in front of a home crowd, several Cougars battled deep into the brackets.
Senior Lucas Menza placed sixth at 157 pounds, earning a key decision victory before falling in the placement rounds. Junior Anush Khodzhaev also finished sixth at 190 pounds, recording two wins by fall during the two-day tournament.
Others competing for the Cougars included seniors Adam Shoning (132) and Naja Alvarado (215), juniors Bryce Namiot (138) and Ryne Frain (175), sophomores Antonio Gutierrez (113) and Jesus Hidalgo (150), and freshman Max Stom (120).
