Legacy's Matthew Clifton, Mead's Eric Hansen lead 4A/5A state wrestling semifinalists

Clifton and Hansen both advanced to the semifinals of the Class 5A and 4A state wrestling tournaments, respectively.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Legacy's Matthew Clifton and Mead's Eric Hansen both had dominant performances in the first two rounds of the Class 5A and 4A state wrestling tournaments at Ball Arena. Clifton, a senior, won his matches by technical fall and is now 54-2 on the season as he aims for his first state title. Hansen, a junior, also won his quarterfinal match by technical fall after failing to qualify for state last year, and is now one win away from reaching the finals.

Why it matters

The state wrestling tournament is one of the most prestigious high school sporting events in Colorado, and Clifton and Hansen's success highlights the talent and dedication of wrestlers from the Boulder County area. Their performances could inspire other local wrestlers to push themselves to new heights.

The details

Clifton, the 132-pound wrestler from Legacy, won his first two matches by technical fall, defeating Broomfield's Asher Diamond 16-1 and Denver South's Jayden Morm 15-0. He will now face Grandview's Kyle Menuez in the semifinals as he seeks his first state title. Hansen, the 150-pound wrestler from Mead, also won his quarterfinal match by technical fall, defeating Skyline's Angel Perez 19-3. Earlier in the day, Hansen defeated Pueblo West's Jacob Murrain 7-3. Hansen will face Palisade's Kadin Mulford in the semifinals.

  • On Feb. 19, 2026, the Class 5A and 4A state wrestling tournaments were held at Ball Arena in Denver.
  • Clifton and Hansen both competed in the quarterfinal rounds of their respective tournaments on Feb. 19, 2026.

The players

Matthew Clifton

A senior wrestler for Legacy High School who is 54-2 on the season and is aiming for his first state title in the 132-pound weight class.

Eric Hansen

A junior wrestler for Mead High School who is one win away from reaching the finals in the 150-pound weight class after failing to qualify for state last year.

Angel Perez

A wrestler for Skyline High School who is competing in the consolation bracket after being defeated by Hansen in the quarterfinals.

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What they’re saying

“I think last year was a good show, but my coaches know the second I walked out of that match, I said, 'I'm taking it all next year.'”

— Matthew Clifton (timescall.com)

“I worked really hard in the off-season to make it here. I wrestled all freestyle. I went to every tournament, camps over the summer, preseason work. Just basically year-round wrestling. I always feel pretty strong in my matches, but I feel like a lot of my technique and confidence in my technique helped me get a lot better.”

— Eric Hansen (timescall.com)

“I came into this year and had a goal of placing at state. I'm chasing that goal right now. My coaches just told me to stay moving on my feet. I guess it doesn't feel the best that he tech falled me, but I know where I want to be at. I'm going to work to get there.”

— Angel Perez (timescall.com)

What’s next

The semifinal matches will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2026, with the championship finals scheduled for later that day.

The takeaway

Clifton and Hansen's dominant performances in the quarterfinals showcase the high level of wrestling talent in the Boulder County area. Their success could inspire other local wrestlers to push themselves to new heights and compete for state titles.