In a display of skill and teamwork, CSU Pueblo’s cybersecurity program has achieved its highest-ever national rankings in the Fall 2024 National Cyber League (NCL) competition. The university’s CyberWolves secured 8th place in the national Cyber Power Rankings and captured 3rd place in the Western College rankings, cementing their position among the nation’s elite cybersecurity programs.
The highlight of the competition came when the CyberWolves’ Red Team achieved a perfect challenge completion rate with 95.3% accuracy. Team members Jeffrey Lange, Kevin Shu, Kieran Varela, and William Scott worked through the weekend tackling complex challenges in forensic analysis, penetration testing, and ransomware recovery.
“It was a huge accomplishment and a goal I was laser-focused on trying to get,” Lange reflected. “Everyone contributed and everyone pulled their weight.”
The competition, which evaluates over 10,000 students from more than 500 institutions nationwide, pushed the team to their limits. Operating virtually from locations across Colorado, the CyberWolves maintained constant communication while solving intricate cybersecurity scenarios.
For Kieran Varela, a concurrent enrollment student, the achievement marked a personal milestone. “I was ecstatic to hear of our placement,” Varela said. “Through CSU Pueblo, I have been able to connect with brilliant people and achieve more than I ever could have dreamt of.”
CSU Pueblo’s concurrent enrollment program allows high school students to earn college credits while still in high school.
According to Varela, the team decided to divide and conquer specific sections that catered to their personal knowledge and skillsets. Lange focused on the password cracking category and allowed the team to be the first to achieve 100% completion in 5 seasons. Later in the competition, they worked concurrently on more difficult challenges. They vetted each answer to ensure. At least two team members looked over the answers before submitting as the NCL awards points for accuracy.
“Several teams achieved an identical high score to ours, but our accuracy allowed us to rise above them and place in the top five,” said Varela.
The team’s success didn’t come by chance. Under the guidance of James Quintana, CSU Pueblo’s NSF-NCL Coach and Lab Developer, and the leadership of Roberto Mejias, CIS professor and faculty lead, the program has built a reputation for excellence. The rigorous Computer Information System curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving, preparing students for the demanding cybersecurity landscape.
CSU Pueblo President Armando Valdez highlighted the program’s strength saying of its inclusivity at a conference in October, “A student coming to CSU Pueblo gets the opportunity to engage with this.”
Building on their fifth-place finish in spring 2024, this achievement showcases CSU Pueblo’s ability to develop cybersecurity talent from diverse backgrounds despite being a small school. Unlike other high-paying careers requiring graduate degrees and standardized tests like the LSAT or MCAT, cybersecurity’s skills-based approach creates opportunities for students to enter the field through certifications and hands-on experience. The accessibility and CSU Pueblo’s comprehensive training in both technical expertise and essential soft skills, makes the program effective at preparing professionals ready to meet industry demands.
