FMCats Wisconsin II 2023

Eighteen competitors converged on a private residence in Colgate, Wisconsin, USA on July 9, 2023, turning a quiet gathering into an intense display of mental endurance and speedcubing precision. FMCats Wisconsin II 2023 brought together specialists in some of the most demanding events recognized by the World Cube Association. Rather than standard speed rounds, this cubing competition tested patience and memory across four single-round disciplines, drawing solvers eager to push the boundaries of blindfold solving and algorithmic efficiency in 2023.

Across the day, record marks tumbled in rapid succession during the 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest, where competitors must memorize the scrambled state before executing algorithms unseen. Carter Kucala delivered a standout performance, logging a single solve of 21.68 seconds and a winning average of 26.18 seconds. Both results stood out as benchmark times for the gathering, setting the competitive tone early. Hassan Khanani secured second place on the podium with a single of 36.87 seconds and an average of 54.80 seconds, while Zeke Mackay locked down third place with a single of 42.34 and an average of 59.82 seconds.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded roster produced a deep wave of record single times that reshaped personal marks across the bracket. Mason Langenderfer registered a single of 43.23 seconds, followed by Tommy Moreno at 46.46 seconds and Jacob Turrubiartes at 51.12 seconds. Further down the field, János Csontos clocked a single of 1:30.54, Braden Richards followed closely with 1:31.41, Logan Maciejewski recorded 2:43.56, and Ben Becker earned a successful 3:27.08 solve. Each of these marks highlighted the high execution rates achieved without visual feedback.

Beyond the memory trials, Carter Kucala captured another major victory in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves at FMCats Wisconsin II 2023. Solvers in this event receive an hour to analyze a scrambled Rubik's Cube and write out the shortest possible solution. Kucala topped the 18 competitors with a winning average of 24.33 moves and a best single attempt of 22 moves. Simon Kellum took second place with a 26.33 average, while Zeke Mackay earned his second podium finish of the day, finishing third with a 28.33 average to cap an impressive display of 3x3 results.

Big cube blindfolded disciplines tested the limits of concentration even further as puzzle dimensions expanded. In the 4x4x4 Blindfolded event, Jacob Turrubiartes claimed first place among 13 competitors with a winning single time of 3:03.76, holding off Carter Kucala who finished second in 3:41.62. Zeke Mackay secured third place with a time of 5:04.88. Meanwhile, the 5x5x5 Blindfolded contest saw Mason Langenderfer take the title against nine competitors, finishing with a best single of 6:52.30. János Csontos earned the runner-up spot in 13:33.00, and Braden Richards took third in 19:53.00.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several participants made substantial strides in personal development during the competition. Logan Maciejewski took on four events and achieved a 3x3x3 Blindfolded personal best of 2:43.56, which was 23 percent faster than his previous mark of 3:32.38, while also earning a best finish of fourth in 5x5x5 Blindfolded and recording a 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best of 37 moves. Tommy Moreno entered four events and cut his 4x4x4 Blindfolded best down to 7:18.11, an 18.5 percent improvement over his prior 8:57.53, alongside a fourth-place finish in 5x5x5 Blindfolded. Ben Becker tackled three events, registering his first ever attempt at 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a 3:27.08 result and dropping his 3x3x3 Fewest Moves personal best by 13 percent to 47 moves.

Other dedicated solvers added meaningful milestones of their own across varied brackets at this WCA competition. Nathaniel Gee participated in three events, logging a 3.2 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves with a personal best of 30 moves and completing a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Blindfolded in 50:24.00, on his way to a best finish of fifth in Fewest Moves. Brian Johnson took fourth place in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves across his two events, while Zayn Khanani finished seventh in the same discipline. Nathan Rahn achieved an eighth-place finish in 3x3x3 Fewest Moves, Shain Papalotl Longbehn earned an eighth-place finish in 4x4x4 Blindfolded, and Carter Bitz secured a thirteenth-place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded.

With twelve total podium positions earned by representatives of the United States, FMCats Wisconsin II 2023 illustrated the depth of local talent in specialized speed cubing formats. From the high-stakes precision of blindfolded solving to the analytical rigor of fewest moves, the single-day schedule delivered a dense collection of personal triumphs and headline performances. As the season rolls forward, the results established in Colgate will serve as a strong baseline for all eighteen competitors heading into their next major tests.