Corny Cubers Iowa Classic 2025

Brody Rhoades delivered the defining performance of the weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, by capturing top honors in both the premier 3x3x3 Cube and the complex 4x4x4 Cube. Rhoades set the pace across three grueling rounds in the main event, ultimately posting a winning 6.88 average in the final to claim victory. His commanding run at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex also included the fastest single solve of the entire 3x3 bracket at 6.00 seconds flat. He paired that performance with a relentless showing in the 4x4x4 Cube, taking the title with a 28.26 average and a single solve of 26.51 seconds.

The Corny Cubers Iowa Classic 2025 drew a bustling field of 117 competitors on September 13, 2025, offering a packed schedule of six events and 13 total rounds. Rhoades established himself as the benchmark throughout the day, holding off strong challenges in both of his signature disciplines. In the 3x3 results, Daniel Mullen placed second with an 8.36 average, while Ethan Cho earned third place with an 8.62 average. Over on the 4x4x4 Cube, Cho secured the runner-up spot behind Rhoades with a 33.57 average, and Marcus Zook took third place with a 36.37 average.

Beyond the double victory by Rhoades, the broader field engaged in fierce battles across short-format and specialty puzzles. In the 2x2x2 Cube, Marcus Zook rose to the top of a 98-person bracket, winning the three-round contest with a 2.48 average and a best single of 1.87 seconds. Drake I. Scott claimed second place on the podium with a 2.78 average, while Joshua Carey took third with a 2.96 average. Zook remained a constant presence near the top of the leaderboards across multiple formats throughout the single-day speedcubing gathering.

Specialty twists provided dramatic finishes in their own right. Tripp Peters conquered the Pyraminx field, besting 87 competitors across two rounds with a blistering 2.03 winning average and a 1.92 single. Chris Van Der Brink finished second in Pyraminx with a 4.09 average, closely followed by Zook in third at 4.30. In the Clock event, Max McGill led the 64-person lineup, capturing first place with a 3.57 average and a 2.98 single. Van Der Brink secured another silver medal with a 3.87 average, and Mullen took third with a 5.63 average.

The Megaminx contest rounded out the podium disciplines with Daniel Mullen claiming victory among 45 solvers in a single decisive round. Mullen registered a 55.69 winning average alongside a sharp 44.16 single solve. Ethan Cho added another podium finish to his day by locking in second place with a 58.05 average, and Zook wrapped up a busy schedule by taking third place with a 1:07.13 average. Every single podium step across all six disciplines was secured by solvers representing the USA, marking an 18-medal domestic sweep.

Tucked behind the podium chases, the heart of this cubing competition was visible in the sheer volume of personal milestones achieved by developing talent. Leo Reichling turned in a remarkable 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 2.14 seconds, shaving 73.5 percent off his previous mark, while also posting a first ever attempt at Pyraminx of 13.72 seconds. Lincoln LaBarre matched that energy on the 2x2x2 Cube with a personal best of 1.33 seconds, a 73.3 percent improvement, alongside an eighth-place best finish of 41st in Megaminx. Winston Johnson dropped his 2x2x2 Cube mark to 6.07 seconds, an improvement of 68.1 percent, while logging his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:22.56.

Other dedicated solvers embraced the challenge of stepping up to unfamiliar disciplines during the action-packed weekend. Samuel Simon produced a massive 59.8 percent cut on his 3x3x3 Cube personal best with a 17.53 solve, and registered a 2.59 single in his first ever attempt at the 2x2x2 Cube. Joe Mike Rockford tackled six separate events, recording a first ever attempt at Clock with a 16.52 result and a 34th-place finish in Megaminx. Caleb Stout also took on six events, securing a 35th-place finish in Megaminx and a first attempt of 1:47.44 on the 4x4x4 Cube. Adam Blakeman marked his first official Pyraminx solve at 9.57 seconds, while Edgar Howard logged a 21.96 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 26.7 percent.

The event showcased the deep technical versatility required in modern speed cubing, moving from the mechanical simplicity of the classic Rubik's Cube to specialized gear like Clock and Megaminx. Solvers moved through preliminary heats and intense elimination finals, managing nerves and setup adjustments across 13 total rounds of official play. For the regional community, this WCA competition provided an essential proving ground where rising competitors measured progress against seasoned regulars under official tournament conditions.

As the Corny Cubers Iowa Classic 2025 concluded in Des Moines, Brody Rhoades stood out as the dominant force of the meet with two major titles. From premier hardware sweeps to huge personal progress down the roster, the gathering highlighted the vibrant state of speedcubing in the region as solvers look ahead to testing their skills again next season.