Dolores High Junior Kenji Edwards Takes Third in 132-Pound 2A State

Kenji Edwards recovered from an early loss to win five consecutive matches and earn third place in the 132-pound bracket at the CHSAA 2A state wrestling tournament at Ball Arena in Denver the weekend of Feb. 19-21, 2026. Edwards’ run made him the area’s top finisher and the highest-placing Four Corners representative.

Edwards dropped his first match of the tournament, then ran through the consolation bracket, capped by a 7-5 win over Nucla’s Jackson McCabe in the consolation semifinal. The Journal described that 7-5 victory as a "nail-biter." In the third-place match Edwards pinned Gabriel Martinez of Las Animas midway through the second period to take the bronze.

Dolores qualified one of its largest groups in years for state, and "With one of its largest groups of qualifiers in years, Dolores saw junior Kenji Edwards lead the area's all-staters with a third-place finish at 132 pounds in 2A," the Journal wrote. Edwards’ performance stood out among the Bears’ contingent at Ball Arena.

Senior Nathan Hill wrestled at 144 pounds and posted a 2-2 record at the state tournament. The Journal described Hill as a "state-tournament veteran" and said he finished "one match shy of the podium." Sophomore Daniel Jacket, wrestling at 215 pounds in his first state appearance, collected a win and advanced to the second round of the consolation bracket. Junior River Wickstrom made his state debut and, as the Journal noted, "battled well but fell in both his state-debut matches."

Regional results from the weekend included Montezuma-Cortez girls sophomore CeJae Snyder earning fifth place in the 115-pound division of the 4A state championships, adding to a third-place finish she earned as a freshman. The Journal summed the area’s state outcomes with the line: "Bears junior takes bronze as the highest-placing Four Corners representative; M-CHS’ Snyder earns fifth and DC’s Banks takes sixth."

Earlier in the month Edwards had claimed the San Juan Basin League title at 132 pounds in Nucla. The Journal’s photo caption captures that moment: "Dolores' Kenji Edwards maintains balance against Mancos' Tegan Mestas during the 2026 San Juan Basin League Championships' first-place bout at 132 pounds Thursday evening, Feb. 5, in Nucla. Edwards would take third in the 2A state championships over the weekend of Feb. 19-21 in Denver." (Joel Priest/Special to The Journal)

Edwards leaves Denver as a junior with a five‑match winning streak at the state meet and a 3rd-place medal at 132 pounds, positioning him as the Four Corners' top returning placer for the next season.