AURORA | The last time Cherokee Trail linemen won the Hog Wars title, it turned out to be a fantastic omen for their season.
That was in 2013, when the Cougars captured the crown of the annual strength and teamwork competition hosted by Rangeview and then went on to make it all the way to the semifinals of the Class 5A state playoffs before a loss to Christian McCaffrey and Valor Christian.
Whether that kind of scenario could happen again is yet to be seen, but regardless of the outcome of the upcoming season, Cherokee Trail has bragging right among Aurora area lineman as Hog Wars champions.
Full photo gallery from the 2026 Hog Wars event, here
Full list of all-time Hog Wars champions, here
“A couple of years we’ve come in second because of some tiebreakers, so to take the helm this time is fantastic,” Cherokee Trail assistant coach Enrique Estrada said.
“It’s definitely a big confidence builder and the guys get excited to compete,” he added. “The skill position players have their 7-on-7s all summer, but this is our opportunity to show out and and show what we’ve been working for all summer.”
With a total of 39 points, the Cougars staved off a determined effort by host Rangeview — which sought its first title in the event since 2018 and 12th all-time since it originated the contest in 2005 — and prevailed after results were tabulated from a series of events contested in brutal summer heat.
The team of seniors Brandon Rodriguez, Carter Ratliffe, Hadey Naser and Jonah Moe plus juniors Kanoa Gillespie, Ethan Eshetu and Ryan Ayers brought to an end a series of close calls for Cherokee Trail in recent years, including a loss on a tiebreaking final event to Pomona last season.
The Cougars crushed the competition in the bench press with 103 reps — 25 more than the second place team — in the most commanding of their four event victories.
“Bench press is my favorite,” Naser said. “It’s a grind, but you just get to rack it and keep going. I was able to get 35 reps, which was big.”
Cherokee Trail also won the monster truck tire flip relay, the sled push, timed obstacle course and 4×100 meter relay, which has to be completed with an oversized pizza box as a baton.
“Even though it was the hardest, my favorite thing was the sleds,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I pushed myself the most and did the most for my team there.”
Across the board, the Cougars who competed believed the benefits of the victory will be felt once practice for the season officially begins Aug. 3. Cherokee Trail is determined to put last season’s disappointing end behind it as it lost to Fountain-Fort Carson 14-7 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs to finish the season 4-7.
“I think it was a great way for us to boost our confidence going into the season and also take a look at some of our competition as well,” Rodriguez said.
Cherokee Trail won the championship, but walked away empty-handed in terms of hardware as Eaglecrest — the event champion in 2024 and the previous two seasons before that as well — has not returned the traveling trophy despite repeated requests from Rangeview head coach Chris Lopez.
Last season’s winner, Pomona, also did not get the trophy.
The Raiders had designs on reasserting themselves atop the competition.
The group of seniors Biram Griffey, Brayden Goddard, Callen Evans, Jaiden Deans and Avoryon Brown — with seniors Bobby Balsach and Sebastian Hernandez as alternates — ended the competition with its lone event victory in the tug-o-war, but was second in the bench press, tire flip and obstacle course.
Topped by wins in the log press and farmers carry, Vista PEAK Prep accrued 27 points to take third.
The participants for coach Kyle Reese’s Bison were seniors Riley Agamiate, Dominic Linderman, Prince Boayke Yiadom, Devinn Johnson and Josyah Williams plus juniors Isaac Diaz and Javion Norton.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2026 HOG WARS
Team scores: 1. Cherokee Trail 39, 2. Rangeview 33, 3. Vista PEAK Prep 27, 4. Pomona 21, 5. Cherokee Trail 2 16
