CSU Pueblo Cyberwolves Team Ranks #1 in National Cybersecurity League Competition Beating Top Schools

A six-student team from Colorado State University Pueblo has beaten cybersecurity programs from UC Berkeley, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and more than 400 other universities to claim the top spot in the National Cyber League Fall 2025 competition.

The announcement came on November 14 at the NCL Awards Ceremony, where the CyberWolves Red Team edged out the College of William and Mary and San Diego State University for first place. More than 10,000 students from 500 colleges and universities competed.

CSU Pueblo Red Team members were Jeffrey Lange, Kevin Shu, William Scott, Wesley Carlstrom, Liam Allen, and Adam Stanifer. Roberto Mejias and James “Jim” Quintana coached the team.

The win comes as the university holds a National Security Agency designation as a Center of Academic Excellence, a recognition given to fewer than 200 institutions nationwide.

The National Cyber League competition tests students on real-world cybersecurity challenges: cryptography, password cracking, network traffic analysis, web application security, and digital forensics. These are the problems professionals face when defending networks and systems for government agencies and private companies.

Teams came from institutions with far larger enrollments and funding. CSU Pueblo is a regional university in southern Colorado, not a research institution with extensive labs and corporate partnerships. That context makes the first-place finish notable.

The team’s composition reflects the inclusive nature of the competitive cybersecurity industry. Lange took all his classes remotely as a non-traditional student, balancing work and school. Stanifer joined after Lange recruited him.

“I was blessed to have been offered a spot on the CSUP Redteam. Little did I know that we would be the most competitive team out there,” Stanifer said.

Training involves intensive post-competition analysis sessions where team members dissect what worked and what didn’t. They share techniques and tools. When someone gets stuck on a challenge, others work together to troubleshoot.

Wesley Carlstrom, a senior CIS major, said the competition bridged classroom theory and professional practice. Solving challenges under time pressure builds confidence that’s hard to teach otherwise.

“I definitely feel ready for what will come at me in the workforce after I graduate,” Carlstrom said.

Competing against students from larger institutions with more resources, Carlstrom and his teammates held their own and then surpassed everyone. That kind of validation changes professional self-perception, Carlstrom added. You stop wondering if you’re good enough and start knowing you are.

The win affects more than the Red Team students. Enrollment in CSU Pueblo’s CIS program has surged. Mejias’s classes now have waiting lists. Prospective students see the national ranking and recognize what smaller programs can offer: close mentorship and hands-on training.

Mejias said he sees the program’s trajectory continuing upward, with the team’s success opening doors that extend beyond traditional tech industry jobs.

“I won’t be surprised if any of our Red Team get some inquiries from DOD intelligence agencies,” Mejias said.

The program is integrating artificial intelligence into its curriculum, ensuring students graduate with skills that match current employer needs.

The victory positions the CyberWolves as the team to beat in future competitions. The Cyber Power Rankings are created by Cyber Skyline in partnership with the National Cyber League. The competition runs twice a year.

Contact Information

Soni Brinsko

Staff Writers

Colorado State University Pueblo

soni.brinsko@ccsupueblo.edu