Get Ahead in Andalusia 2023

Fifty-six competitors gathered on November 11, 2023, turning the Kiwanis Community Center of Andalusia into a bustling hub of precision and camaraderie. The single-day speedcubing gathering brought together puzzle enthusiasts from across the region to contest eight varied events over eleven rounds of play. While stopwatches tracked every fraction of a second, the shared focus at the solving tables established an energetic rhythm. Participants traded advice between rounds, watched friends take on new puzzles, and celebrated every minor triumph across the busy schedule.

The atmosphere of the cubing competition was defined by a wide mix of events that went far beyond the standard Rubik's Cube. From the rapid-fire turns of the 2x2x2 Cube to the intricate mechanics of Clock and the twelve-sided challenge of Megaminx, every station offered something distinct. The Andalusia, Alabama, USA venue served as the ideal setting for this full day of speed cubing, where seasoned hands and newcomers stood shoulder to shoulder while judges kept the flow running smoothly.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube event, Dylan Miller claimed the top step of the podium among a field of 54 competitors across two rounds. Miller posted a winning average of 6.33 seconds and delivered the tournament's best single solve of 5.10. Nicolás Sánchez secured the runner-up spot with an average of 6.74 seconds, while Katie Hull rounded out the podium in third place with an 8.14 average. The premier 3x3 results demonstrated remarkable consistency and composure through the decisive final round.

Miller also secured gold in Megaminx, topping 28 competitors in the event with an average of 36.27 seconds and a best single solve of 34.35. Jared Stinson finished in second position with a 40.44 average, followed by Tommy Cherry in third with 46.35. Meanwhile, the 4x4x4 Cube contest produced an exceptionally tight finish between the top two spots. Katie Hull took first place with a 28.20 average, barely edging out Nicolás Sánchez, who posted a 28.24 average, while Cherry placed third with 30.25.

Away from the top of the podium, the heart of the event lived in the personal milestones achieved across the venue. Owen K. Jensen delivered a major step forward by notching a personal best of 3.68 seconds in 2x2x2 Cube, an improvement of 34.1 percent, alongside a 20.4 percent reduction in 3x3x3 Cube down to 13.71, while also logging a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:00.93. Noah Lee excelled across multiple disciplines, cutting 33.1 percent off their Skewb personal best down to 5.14, dropping 30.5 percent in Clock to 17.13, and slicing 23.8 percent in Megaminx to 2:02.87. Quintan Anthony Huffman tackled eight events, placing sixth in Clock while posting personal bests in 5x5x5 Cube at 1:44.34 and Megaminx at 1:26.17, alongside a first attempt at 6x6x6 Cube in 3:13.58. Mateo Pokorny made significant gains with a 26.1 percent improvement in 3x3x3 Cube to 13.51 seconds and recorded a first attempt at 4x4x4 Cube in 1:08.12.

The spirit of trying new disciplines was evident throughout the day as competitors expanded their repertoires. Silas White took on seven events and completed first ever attempts in Megaminx with 2:32.45, Skewb with 12.30, and 5x5x5 Cube with 3:47.17. Douglas Chaplow completed eight events, recording first attempts in Clock with 13.53, Skewb with 11.43, and Megaminx with 1:46.47 while earning an 11th-place finish in 6x6x6 Cube. Nicky Steingraber secured a 29.8 percent improvement in Skewb with a 5.98 personal best, a 15.7 percent drop in 5x5x5 Cube down to 1:41.14, and a 10 percent drop in 4x4x4 Cube to 56.42. For William Carter, this marked their first WCA competition, taking on five events with first attempts of 7.03 in 2x2x2 Cube, 24.01 in 3x3x3 Cube, and 2:45.32 in 4x4x4 Cube.

Tommy Cherry put together a prolific performance across several puzzle styles, collecting victories in four separate events. In 2x2x2 Cube, Cherry captured first with a 1.62 average ahead of Matias Marcantoni-Nunez at 1.66 and Nicolás Sánchez at 2.01. Cherry added another victory in Skewb with a 3.94 average, clear of Thomas Bryan at 4.61 and Jared Stinson at 5.66. In Clock, Cherry won with an average of 3.53 seconds, ahead of Jacob Ambrose at 6.46 and Roman Wofford at 6.56, before claiming the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 57.70 average over Sean Hartman and Katie Hull.

The big cubes provided an exciting finish to the schedule, with Sean Hartman winning the 6x6x6 Cube title on a 1:41.35 average, outpacing Katie Hull at 1:44.89 and Tommy Cherry at 1:55.34. United States competitors swept all 24 podium placements across the tournament. When the final rounds concluded at Get Ahead in Andalusia 2023, the event left behind a rich slate of shared memories, new personal milestones, and strong community connections that set the tone for the upcoming competition season.

As the tables were cleared and timers packed away, competitors departed Andalusia with fresh goals and newly forged friendships. Whether solving on the main stage or trying out unfamiliar puzzles for the first time, each participant contributed to a memorable gathering that highlighted the supportive culture at the core of the speedcubing community.