Machesney Park Fall 2025

A blistering 5.97-second average by Zeke Mackay in the final of the traditional Rubik's Cube set the tone for a full day of action in northern Illinois. Across three rounds of top-tier solving, Mackay delivered precision turning, capped by a best single of 5.54 seconds. The performance earned him the premier title at Machesney Park Fall 2025, topping a 48-competitor field. Behind him, Carter Thomas secured second place with a 7.26 average, while Hassan Khanani rounded out the podium with a 7.31 mark.

Beyond the championship tier, the tournament gathered 49 competitors inside Harlem High School on November 15, 2025. Speedcubing in Machesney Park, Illinois, USA showed its vibrant character through side events and camaraderie across the venue. Solvers mingled between scheduled heats, comparing hardware, discussing turning techniques, and sharing algorithms. The single-day WCA competition showcased 15 rounds across six events, drawing together seasoned veterans and fresh faces from around the region.

The big cubes featured remarkable dominance from Henry Lichner, who claimed a double sweep in the heaviest events of the schedule. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Lichner posted a winning average of 1:10.64 alongside the event's top single at 1:05.39. He repeated his winning formula in the 7x7x7 Cube with a 1:53.88 average and a fast single of 1:42.80. Carter Thomas took runner-up honors in both events with averages of 1:25.04 and 2:20.52, while Mackay placed third in both with 1:40.24 and 2:34.98.

Specialty disciplines brought fast-paced variety to the gymnasium floor. Simon Kellum stood out in Skewb, taking the victory with a 3.27 average and a 2.12 single across two rounds. Brian Johnson followed closely in second with 3.45, while Lucas Lippman-Bruno earned third with 3.81. In Clock, Carter Thomas secured the top spot with a 3.76 average and a 2.86 single over three rounds, besting Zachary Cribb at 4.42 and Charles Bois at 4.82.

The Square-1 tournament delivered sharp competition through three intense rounds. Hassan Khanani captured the title with a swift 5.81 average and an event-leading single of 3.87. Brian Johnson claimed another podium finish on the day, placing second with a 6.32 average, while Lucas Lippman-Bruno captured third place with 8.27. The depth across multiple formats highlighted the all-around speed cubing skill present throughout the Midwestern gathering.

Away from the top steps of the podium, personal milestones and breakthroughs filled the scorecards. Lawrence Walsh achieved an enormous personal best in Square-1 with a 27.28 single, cutting 62.3% off his previous mark of 1:12.40, while also dropping his Clock best by 28.3% down to 17.41. Aaron LaBelle took on all six events on the schedule, setting a Square-1 personal best of 26.86 that was 36.9% faster than before, while posting his first ever official attempts in the 6x6x6 Cube at 4:51.92 and the 7x7x7 Cube at 7:37.81. Cash Carlson dropped his Square-1 best by 33.6% to 22.59, and Ben Castro logged his first ever official Square-1 attempt with a 24.13 while improving his Clock time by 26.4% to 31.89.

First-time steps into new disciplines provided some of the most rewarding moments of the meet. Neelay Shukla tackled Clock for the first time with an 8.94 single and improved his main event mark by 26.5% to 13.42. Ethan Wood recorded his first ever 7x7x7 Cube attempt at 7:27.00 alongside a 19.3% personal best in Skewb at 6.68. Benjamin Schneider put down a 20.36 in his first Clock appearance and took 20.7% off his Skewb best with a 9.78 single. Making her first WCA competition appearance, Greta Goulding competed across four events, logging an initial 12.11 single in Skewb and 33.66 on the standard puzzle.

Official 3x3 results featured a flurry of personal records throughout the preliminary and middle stages. Solvers including Joshua Feran, Simon Poldi, Jayden Kvernmo, Charles F. Roller, Ethan M. Roberson, and Liam Welch all registered personal best singles and averages on the day. Lichner also made an impact in the main event, posting a 7.08 single and a 7.78 average. Across all events, competitors from the United States took all 18 podium placements.

The successful conclusion of Machesney Park Fall 2025 closed out an energetic day of community and competition at Harlem High School. From first-time entrants completing their opening solves to elite finalists breaking the six-second barrier, the gathering reflected the dedication of Midwest solvers. As tables cleared and timers packed away, competitors parted with new personal marks and shared memories ahead of the next competitive season.