CSU Pueblo's Elite Cyber Warriors Finish 1st in Grueling National Cyber League

PUEBLO, COLORADO – Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) ‘CyberWolves’ team achieved 1^st and 3^rd place in the recent Spring 2024 National Cyber League (NCL) online cybersecurity competition in May. The crew of cybersecurity students led by Coach Jim Quintana, squared off against thousands of peers from 737 colleges, universities, and high schools across the United States.

The "CyberWolves_RED@CSUPueblo" team included Jesse Vido, Jeffrey Lange, Kevin Shu, Kieran Varela, and William Scott. They tackled a gauntlet of real-world cyber challenges involving forensics, password cracking, web app exploitation, and other skills crucial for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

“Partnering and competing in the NCL helps us reinforce the value of competition and believing in oneself,” said Coach Quintana. “The team displayed excellent preparation and proficiency allowing them to place ahead of larger schools like Baylor University and Georgia State. I am proud of the hard work from our students as our national ranking demonstrates.”

In a dramatic, high stakes move during the closing hours of the intensely competitive NCL, the CyberWolves took a calculated risk that propelled them into the coveted top 10 national rankings. With colossal stakes involved, the CSU Pueblo squad found themselves jockeying for the number 1 position.

Determined to secure at least a top-5 trophy finish, they utilized a hint, a decision that knocked them down to a lower place. However, the daring gambit paid dividends when team member Kevin Shu came in at the last moment for the win.

"At the start, we set an ambitious goal of earning a trophy position," said team member Jesse Vido who is going into his last year at CSU Pueblo. "Through tremendous hard work and determination, pulling all-nighters to tackle the complex challenges, we achieved that objective. During the last hours of the competition, we were hovering among the top 10 spots. To ensure that we secured a top 5 placing, we used a hint that momentarily dropped us the 8th place, but our team member, Kevin Shu, was able to solve the hint and secured our top 5 placement. We made a small sacrifice, and it worked.

Their 1^st and 3^rd place national finish demonstrates CSU Pueblo's cybersecurity program is producing graduates with skills on par with the nation's elite schools. As cybercrime costs the world trillions annually and the cybersecurity workforce shortage persists, the accomplishment highlights CSU Pueblo's role in developing talent urgently needed to secure systems and data.

"We're extremely proud of our cybersecurity students' success in this ultracompetitive event," said Dr. Roberto Mejias, Director of the Center for Cyber Security Education and Research. "Their performance proves our academic training translates into real-world readiness to combat the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape."

Additionally, students who participate in the NCL can receive valuable performance data from an individualized Scouting Reports, which align their experience to industry certifications and government standards, said the National Cyber League in their official Fall 2023 notice.  

Over two months, the CSU Pueblo team demonstrated mastery across Open Source Intelligence, forensics, cryptography, and other disciplines critical to cybersecurity. With this top 5 national finish, the CyberWolves and CSU Pueblo have established themselves among the elite cybersecurity student teams in America.

To learn more about CSU Pueblo's Cyber Crime Technology program that helped produce this exceptional talent, visit the Center for Cyber Security Education and Research website.