Copper Country Comeback 2026

Joshua Feran delivered a commanding 10.20 finish to secure the main Rubik's Cube victory at Copper Country Comeback 2026, anchoring a remarkable display that defined the one-day gathering. Taking place on September 19, 2026, at the Memorial Union Building in Houghton, Michigan, USA, the gathering tested competitors across seven distinct disciplines. Feran set an exceptionally high standard right from the outset, establishing himself as the competitor to beat while trading podium places in a tense, head-to-head battle with fellow front-runner Luke Selle.

The 3x3 results crowned Feran as the champion ahead of Selle, who took the runner-up spot with an 11.36 mark, and Philip Cuthbertson, who placed third with a 12.14 effort. But Feran was far from finished with the top step of the podium. Across the diverse range of puzzles, his precision yielded victories in three separate events, reinforcing his control over the upper bracket of the standings throughout the intense schedule of solving.

In Megaminx, Feran paced the field with a dominant 1:02.98 to capture his second title of the weekend. Cuthbertson claimed second place in 1:16.62, while Selle completed the podium in 1:18.65. The 4x4x4 Cube competition followed a similar pattern of control, as Feran locked in a winning time of 39.61. Brayden Gilland mounted a close challenge to take second with a 40.86 mark, leaving Selle in third place at 44.52.

Luke Selle mounted his own multi-event charge to capture three titles of his own during the cubing competition. In the 2x2x2 Cube event, Selle posted a rapid 2.54 to take the win, staying clear of Cuthbertson at 3.58 and Jameson R. Sramek at 3.74. Selle then carried that momentum straight into the side events, demonstrating his all-around speed cubing capability across very different mechanical puzzles.

Selle added top honors in Skewb with a 5.76 mark, holding off Ty Portzen at 6.17 and Feran at 6.26. He followed that performance with a Pyraminx victory in 4.12, ahead of Gilland at 4.92 and Feran at 5.51. In 3x3x3 One-Handed, Philip Cuthbertson broke through for a well-earned title with a 16.43 effort, ahead of Feran at 18.81 and Selle at 22.19, ensuring all twenty-one podium places across the weekend remained with United States competitors.

Away from the top of the podium, several competitors delivered massive improvements that highlighted the depth of speedcubing progress in the region. Caleb Gamble entered five events and recorded a huge 54.5% personal best in the 4x4x4 Cube with a 54.58 mark, cutting down his prior 2:00.05, while also earning fifth place in the main event with a 9.60 personal best. Adam Hemmer tackled all seven events, securing sixth place in Megaminx while cutting his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 52.6% to 4.04 and his Skewb time by 46.5% to 6.79. Jordan Tormala took on seven disciplines, completing a first Megaminx effort in 3:43.32 and improving his Skewb best by 35.3% to 6.53. Casey Ostroski also contested seven events, notching a first Megaminx attempt in 2:49.24 and trimming 39.5% off his Pyraminx best down to 5.84.

The progress continued across the scorecards as competitors embraced new challenges. Anja Chopp contested four events, posting a first official 2x2x2 Cube time of 6.13 and taking eighth in Skewb with a 33.2% personal best of 6.15. Dan Pietz earned a fifth-place Megaminx result with a 10.1% personal best of 1:27.59 across six events entered. First-time appearances brought fresh energy to the floor as Kira Holzhausen tackled five disciplines at her first WCA competition, recording initial marks of 21.05 in Skewb and 2:01.45 in the 4x4x4 Cube, while Layne Massaway completed initial runs in the 3x3x3 Cube in 45.54 and 2x2x2 Cube in 16.47.

The single-day competition at the Memorial Union Building brought together seasoned medalists and rising talent under the World Cube Association banner. The hard-fought rivalry between Feran, Selle, and Cuthbertson highlighted the competitive spirit of Copper Country Comeback 2026, delivering sharp times and multiple titles across every puzzle category. With personal records tumbling throughout the ranks, the Houghton community wrapped up a memorable day of racing against the clock.

As the event concluded, Joshua Feran stood out as the dominant force across the larger puzzles and main 3x3 division, while Selle and Cuthbertson proved their mettle across the remaining disciplines. Copper Country Comeback 2026 showcased high-level solving skill and steady progress throughout the field, leaving the Upper Peninsula speedcubing scene on solid footing as solvers prepare for future challenges.