COLBY’S DEMPEWOLF CAPTURES COSMIC CLASH TITLE
October 14, 2025
For Colby’s own Ryder Dempewolf, the lights were bright, the stage was national, and the competition was fierce — exactly how he likes it. On September 20 at the National Western Stock Show Complex, Dempewolf stormed through the Rocky Mountain National Events’ Cosmic Clash, claiming the 120-pound championship in the 18-and-under division with a performance that left little doubt he’s back and better than ever.
This marks another milestone in what has already become a remarkable wrestling journey for the Colby High School standout — one defined by purpose, power, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Dempewolf opened the tournament which featured only black lighting with a space theme to bring a different vibe to a historic sport. He drew a bye in the Round of 64, then wasted no time setting the tone in his first live match against Montana’s Brady Gehring. After building an 11-point lead with slick single-leg takedowns and near-fall turns, Dempewolf finished the job in the second period, pinning Gehring after an explosive escape and relentless top pressure.
In the Round of 16, Colorado’s Devyn Miller put up early resistance, but Dempewolf’s high-crotch attack and constant pressure proved too much. Leading 5-1, he countered a mat return attempt with a quick adjustment and reversed Miller straight to his back — sealing another pin and sending a message to the rest of the bracket.
The quarterfinals saw Dempewolf dismantle Juan Julian Quintana of Colorado with a 15-0 technical fall. Using a mix of drag-bys, tilts, and wings, Dempewolf racked up points at will and left no opening for his opponent to recover. By the end of the second period, the match was stopped — pure domination.
By the time the semifinal match arrived, Ryder Dempewolf found himself in the middle of a heavyweight clash of wills. His opponent, Colorado’s Urijah Duran, was built for chaos: compact, powerful, and known for never backing down in a scramble.
From the opening whistle, the two locked horns in a furious tie-up, each searching for control. Then, in classic Dempewolf fashion, he struck fast — a slick duck-under that caught Duran leaning and earned an early takedown. Duran battled back, refusing to give an inch, and by the end of the first period, Dempewolf led 3-0, but it was clear this would be no easy path to the finals.
In the second period, Dempewolf’s relentless offense took center stage. He muscled through another takedown and kept Duran fighting from underneath, but the Colorado wrestler refused to fade, escaping late and keeping the pressure on.
The pace was grueling, and by the start of the third, Dempewolf’s energy began to dip — his movements just a half-step slower, his breaths heavier. Starting in the bottom position, he exploded to his feet for an escape, extending his lead, but Duran wasn’t done. With his corner roaring, Duran released him and immediately shot in, forcing wild scrambles that spilled off the mat multiple times. Every exchange tested Dempewolf’s resolve, and when Duran finally finished a takedown to close the gap to 6-4, the corner was on its feet.
With under 30 seconds left, Duran gave the escape to make it 7-4 and went for broke. His corner screamed for a stalling call, forcing a pause that gave Dempewolf a moment to collect himself. On the restart, he summoned everything he had left — dropping low and firing off a lightning-quick single leg, driving Duran to the mat as the buzzer sounded.
The scoreboard read 8-4, and Dempewolf let out a deep exhale of relief. “My dad was just telling me that I have to keep the pressure and just keep moving,” he said afterward. “I listened to him, and it ended up pretty good on my part.” It wasn’t just a win — it was a gut-check, the kind that reveals why Ryder Dempewolf is among the best in the nation.
That victory set up a championship clash with Colorado’s Dayton Albrecht, a tall, lanky wrestler with an aggressive style. Dempewolf never blinked. He opened the bout with a smooth single-leg takedown, added a mat return, and turned Albrecht for a four-point near fall to lead 10-1 after one.
In the second, he sprawled on an Albrecht attack, reversed the position, and finished the match with a crushing half nelson for the fall — and the Cosmic Clash crown.
“I was pretty happy since I went to this tournament twice before and ended up fourth and not placing,” Dempewolf said. “It was pretty awesome finally winning it.”
The win comes as a powerful statement after an offseason setback — a torn pectoral muscle suffered during last year’s 4A State Finals. Months of rehab and recovery have only sharpened his determination.
Next up, Dempewolf will take his talents to the Super 32 in North Carolina on October 18, one of the nation’s premier prep wrestling events, followed by Preseason Nationals in Iowa — a tournament he won last year at 113 pounds. Alongside the competition, he’ll be visiting college campuses, taking the next steps toward what looks to be a promising collegiate wrestling career.
For Colby, and for Kansas wrestling fans, Ryder Dempewolf isn’t just back — he’s on a mission.