Battle at Fort Hays KS 2024

A total of 26 competitors gathered under the lights of Fort Hays Memorial Union on September 14, 2024, bringing rapid hands and sharp minds to Hays, Kansas, USA. While the quiet discipline of events like Fewest Moves typically offers a stark pen-and-paper contrast of deep analysis against the frantic turning of standard speedcubing, the schedule here favoured fast-paced, high-pressure execution across seven official disciplines. With 15 rounds packed into a single intense day, the Battle at Fort Hays KS 2024 tested reaction times, spatial memory, and physical dexterity from morning to evening in an unforgettable showdown.

The premier event of any cubing competition remains the classic Rubik's Cube, and the 3x3 results in Kansas lived up to the billing. Aaron Huynh delivered a masterclass throughout three rounds of competition, ultimately claiming the top step of the podium with a blistering 6.63 winning average and a best single of 6.06. August Phye secured the runner-up spot with an average of 10.44, while Kian Cline rounded out the podium with a 10.78 mark, concluding an electrifying final that showcased the very best of American speed cubing.

Aaron Huynh was not finished with just one title, proving equally formidable in the larger puzzles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Huynh dominated an 18-competitor field over two rounds, capturing first place with a 29.80 winning average and a single of 25.54. August Phye took second place with an average of 39.93, followed closely by Lydia Workman in third at 44.48. Huynh also added a silver medal in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded event, posting a single of 1:40.79, and another runner-up finish in Megaminx, highlighting unmatched versatility across multiple puzzle formats.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded discipline demanded absolute concentration, as competitors memorised the puzzle before donning blindfolds to execute their solutions entirely from memory. Ben Erwin rose to the occasion in the ten-person field, claiming victory with a winning single time of 1:34.24. Matthew Lugibihl earned the third-place spot on the podium behind Erwin and Huynh with a strong 1:57.35 effort, celebrating a memorable contest of mental endurance and precise spatial tracking.

Elsewhere on the floor, specialised events produced thrilling finishes and tight margins. Kian Cline took the top honour in Square-1, navigating the single-round contest to win with an impressive 9.34 average and a 8.90 single, finishing ahead of Gordon Thomas White III and Trenton Cuzick. Cuzick found his own triumph in Clock, averaging 5.78 across three rounds to defeat Cline and White. In Pyraminx, Maverick Winship led the 21-competitor field with a rapid 3.95 average, while August Phye claimed gold in Megaminx with a 1:00.62 average ahead of Huynh and Workman.

Beyond the championship trophies, the true heart of the Battle at Fort Hays KS 2024 shone through the personal breakthroughs recorded across the brackets. Trent Cline delivered one of the weekend highlights by shaving 44 percent off his Clock mark with an 11.27 personal best, while also improving his 3x3x3 Cube time by 20.6 percent to 37.77. Teddy Stilwell made immense progress across multiple disciplines, dropping his Pyraminx personal best by 34.7 percent to 3.39 and his Clock time by 33.4 percent to 10.79, which earned him a 4th-place Pyraminx finish. Isaac Wesolowski cut 30.6 percent from his previous standard on the 4x4x4 Cube with a 1:32.80 result, and Ryker Barrett took on his first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube, clocking 1:07.76 alongside a 17.4 percent improvement in Clock to 6.60.

New ventures and steep learning curves continued to define the competition floor for several seasoned and emerging solvers. Francisco García tackled his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a successful 5:34.25 single while improving his Square-1 best by 19.6 percent to 18.04. Maverick Weinberg took on an ambitious six-event slate, making first-ever attempts at Megaminx with 4:09.78, 4x4x4 Cube with 1:53.86, and Square-1 with 41.66. Christian Nguyen completed his first ever attempt at Clock in 14.85 while setting an 11.21 personal best in the 3x3x3 Cube, and Liam O'Leary improved his Pyraminx personal best by 15 percent to 3.96 while achieving a 4th-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube.

Every WCA competition provides a welcoming stage for newcomers making their official debuts, and Hays was no exception. First-time competitors Ethan Miller, Jace Liam Casner, and Drake Sadler all completed their first official solves in the 3x3x3 Cube, posting times of 25.06, 39.99, and 49.69 respectively. Their efforts reflected the collective spirit of the community, where every solved puzzle represents a hard-earned individual achievement regardless of the final standings.

As the equipment was packed away and the timers were reset, the Battle at Fort Hays KS 2024 left an enduring mark on the local scene. From Aaron Huynh's dual victories in the 3x3x3 and 4x4x4 to the numerous personal records achieved throughout the brackets, the event demonstrated the depth and passion present in Kansas speedcubing. Solvers will carry the lessons and successes of this one-day showcase into the next season of competition.