K-State Cubing Spring 2024

Fifty competitors gathered under one roof as the tables filled with timers, mats, and puzzles of every shape. Taking place on April 6, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan in Manhattan, Kansas, USA, the gathering brought together a passionate speedcubing community eager to share solves, compare methods, and catch up between rounds. Across 13 rounds of action in six distinct disciplines, the atmosphere remained vibrant as participants supported one another across every stage of the schedule.

The 2024 program delivered a rich mix of classic speed cubing alongside popular side disciplines. Between rounds of the traditional Rubik's Cube, participants gathered around practice stations to trade advice on the Megaminx dodecahedron, dial in their tensioning for Clock, or test out large-layer hardware. The single-day WCA competition offered a welcoming space where competitors could step beyond standard puzzles and experience a diverse selection of official formats alongside friends and peers.

At the front of the pack in the main event, Alexander Gager delivered top-tier form to claim first place. In the three-round 3x3x3 Cube tournament featuring 49 competitors, Gager secured the title with a winning average of 10.05 seconds, supported by a best single of 9.16 seconds. The 3x3 results saw Joseph Park take second place with a 10.47 average, while Samuel Pollom earned third place at 10.75 seconds to complete an all-United States podium.

Gager also showcased his mastery on the twelve-sided Megaminx, capturing a second gold medal of the weekend. Over two rounds of competition against 23 competitors, he posted a winning average of 41.35 seconds and a blistering best single of 36.19 seconds. Isaac Lindsey followed in second place with a 52.56 average, while Connor Lyons secured third place with an average of 1:03.60 to cap an impressive display across multiple events.

Beyond the top podium steps, the heart of this cubing competition emerged in the personal milestones achieved across the venue floor. Wendell Gundy entered three events and delivered a massive breakthrough in Pyraminx, logging a personal best single of 4.61 seconds, which improved on their previous mark of 14.21 by 67.6 percent, alongside a first official Megaminx attempt of 2:45.14. Benjamin Brown tackled four events, trimming their Pyraminx best to 6.29 seconds for a 51.1 percent drop, lowering their Clock best by 29.1 percent to 20.39 seconds, and taking 16.4 percent off their 7x7x7 Cube mark with an 8:16.15 single. Brody Ewing dropped 37.4 percent in Megaminx down to 1:47.60, improved by 36.1 percent in Clock with a 17.54, and cut their 3x3x3 Cube single to 18.09 seconds. Logan Spooner entered five disciplines, setting a 14.20 single in 3x3x3 Cube and a 6:31.55 in 7x7x7 Cube while posting a first Megaminx result of 2:36.58.

Fresh faces and new event entries added tremendous energy to the roster throughout the day. Francisco García took on six events, achieving a best finish of fourth in Megaminx with a personal best of 1:03.73 that was 19.5 percent faster than before, while also logging a first Clock attempt of 14.76 seconds. George Wesch took part in their first official tournament, logging first career marks of 43.47 seconds in 3x3x3 Cube and 17.69 seconds in Pyraminx. King Arroyo also made their tournament debut, recording an initial Megaminx single of 3:10.43 and a 3x3x3 Cube mark of 32.71 seconds. Finn Gatbonton completed their first event entries as well, posting an opening 33.34 in 3x3x3 Cube and an 11.65 in Pyraminx.

The big cubes featured exceptional performances from Lydia Workman, who swept both large-puzzle categories. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Workman topped a 15-competitor field with a winning average of 1:45.49 and a best single of 1:36.56. Zachary Walden finished second with a 1:48.09 average, and Connor Lyons claimed third with 2:33.31. Workman repeated her success in the 7x7x7 Cube, posting a winning average of 2:43.46 and a single of 2:32.31 across two rounds. Walden took second at 3:09.19, and Lyons again secured third place with an average of 3:37.68.

In the specialty events, Dominic Brungardt earned the victory in Clock, navigating two rounds against 22 competitors to finish with a winning average of 5.45 seconds and a best single of 4.76. Zachary Shaw placed second with a 5.95 average, and Trenton Cuzick finished third at 6.28 seconds. The Pyraminx contest concluded with Connor Lyons capturing the win behind a 4.75 average and a 3.59 single over three rounds, edging Samuel Pollom at 4.90 seconds and Maverick Winship at 6.24 seconds.

With 18 podium spots claimed by United States competitors across six events, K-State Cubing Spring 2024 concluded as a memorable celebration of skill and camaraderie. From newcomers testing their very first solves to seasoned competitors executing complex multi-layered algorithms, the gathering in Manhattan highlighted the shared dedication that continues to drive the community forward as everyone looks ahead to the next season of solving.