Hilltop Summer OH 2025

Simon Kellum set an explosive benchmark in Columbus, Ohio, USA, storming through three rounds of Skewb to seize victory with a searing 1.87 winning average. The performance featured a blistering 1.46 best single, showcasing the rapid turning and decisive fingertricks that define the discipline. Hosted at the Columbus Metropolitan Library: Hilltop Branch on June 27, 2025, Hilltop Summer OH 2025 gathered 28 competitors for an action-packed 12 rounds of head-to-head racing across four distinct side events. While traditional one-handed solving celebrates the intricate ergonomics and thumb-drags of the standard Rubik's Cube, this specialized cubing competition rewarded a different form of dexterity, shifting focus entirely to non-3x3 events where specialist handling and raw pace reign supreme.

Across the tables, participants tackled a slate that diverged sharply from standard 3x3 results, leaning instead into the geometric complexities of alternative puzzles. Dylan Cossin rose to the top of a deep 28-competitor field in Pyraminx, taking first place with an exceptional 2.14 winning average and an event-best single of 1.84. Cossin edged out Elliott Perkins, who took second place with an average of 2.27, and Jeriyah Griffin, who matched that 2.27 mark to secure third. Cossin also demonstrated broad range across the tournament schedule by collecting another podium spot in Square-1, earning third place overall.

The Square-1 bracket demanded sharp execution and rapid alignment, challenging 19 solvers through three rigorous rounds of play. Jacob Dyland Bennett captured the title with a polished 7.22 average, backed by a quick 6.65 single. Bennett held off runner-up Evan Wright, who finished in second place with a 7.62 average, while Dylan Cossin completed the top three with an average of 10.35. The event tested pure mechanical control, requiring competitors to manage shape-shifting layers without losing momentum during high-stress solves.

Clock brought intense competition among 21 entrants, where Elliott Perkins captured the top podium spot with a winning average of 5.36 and a best single of 5.00. Perkins held off Gabriel Gowman, who claimed second place with a 5.62 average, and Evan Wright, who secured his second podium finish of the day with a 5.79 average for third place. The event also featured Mark Gowman earning a strong 4th place finish, while Aaron Feng took 7th place in the final standings. All 12 podium spots across the competition were claimed by representatives of the USA.

Beyond the podium battles, Hilltop Summer OH 2025 offered a stage for remarkable breakthroughs that the final scorecards often overlook. Amanda Schmid took on four events and delivered monumental personal bests, cutting her Square-1 single to 39.37, which was 55.3 percent faster than her previous mark, and dropping her Skewb single to 6.61, a 52.5 percent improvement. Weston Clay entered three events and lowered their Skewb best to 5.95, an improvement of 52.5 percent, while Isaac Lee entered four events, earned 5th in Square-1, and chopped their Skewb best down to 4.71, an advance of 52.1 percent. Corey Hammer also made huge strides in three events, posting a Square-1 personal best of 1:01.32 to beat their previous mark by 39.7 percent.

The spirit of personal progression was equally vibrant among newcomers tackling fresh challenges at the WCA competition. Henry Hammer logged a first ever attempt at Skewb with a 12.90 and cut their Pyraminx best to 13.04, an improvement of 24.5 percent. Mason Panzone recorded a first ever attempt at Skewb with a 10.18. Samuel Jibat marked their first speedcubing competition appearance by posting a first ever attempt at Pyraminx in 10.28 and a Clock single of 39.34. Scott Wintringham also made their debut, recording a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with a 21.54, while Carol Wintringham similarly launched their competitive journey with a 20.94 Pyraminx run.

The Skewb bracket concluded with high drama as Simon Kellum led the 23-person field to victory with his 1.87 average. Carter Kucala took second place with a solid 2.19 mark, while Gabriel Gowman earned another podium step by finishing third with an average of 2.76, narrowly ahead of Layne VanSiegel, who took 4th place. The competition showcased the finest elements of speed cubing, where technical mastery, rapid inspection, and smooth transitions decide fractions of a second under the timer.

As the single-day meet drew to a close at the Hilltop Branch library in Columbus, Hilltop Summer OH 2025 stood as a testament to the thriving community of puzzle solvers in 2025. From seasoned competitors trading tenths on the podium to newcomers charting their first official times, the tournament proved how rewarding non-traditional events remain on the competitive circuit. Solvers departed Ohio with fresh personal milestones, already setting their sights on refining algorithms and finger execution for the upcoming challenges of the next season.