NxNationwide Lewis Center 2025

Winter transit across the Midwest brought 64 puzzle enthusiasts together under the bright lights of the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center. Before the first timer started, competitors unpacked bags filled with lubricants, timers, and customized puzzles, having made long journeys through freezing February conditions to take part. The venue in Lewis Center, Ohio, USA was alive with the constant hum of turning plastic as speedcubing competitors warmed up their hands and shared solve techniques. The single-day gathering on February 8, 2025 offered a packed slate of 11 rounds across seven diverse categories.

The dedication required to travel to this speed cubing showcase set the tone for an intense day of solving. For many, reaching the tables meant navigating icy highways and regional transit routes to test their skills against a broad field. Every cubing competition brings together a mix of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers, all united by a common drive to shave tenths of a second off their personal marks. At NxNationwide Lewis Center 2025, the energy in the main hall stayed high from the opening scrambles all the way through the final showdowns.

The main event delivered exceptional drama as Luke Garrett claimed the top spot in 3x3x3 Cube. Garrett led the 62-competitor field through three rounds of competition, ultimately locking down the victory with a standout 6.31 winning average and delivering the day's best single solve of 5.18 seconds. Jack Pfeifer followed in second place with a solid 7.05 average, while Luke Griesser rounded out the podium positions with a 7.99 average. The high-level 3x3 results demonstrated the incredible standard of modern Rubik's Cube mastery on display throughout the day.

Garrett continued his commanding form across multiple categories, sweeping nearly every smaller puzzle on the schedule. In the 2x2x2 Cube final, Garrett captured first place with an impressive 1.39 average, holding off Sujan Feist who posted a 1.66 average and Elliott Perkins with a 1.94 average. The 4x4x4 Cube contest saw Garrett triumph again with a 24.47 winning average and a single of 23.24 seconds, finishing ahead of Pfeifer's 28.97 and Jacob Dyland Bennett's 29.62. Garrett then secured the 5x5x5 Cube title with a 49.55 average, once again placing ahead of Pfeifer and Bennett.

The big-cube events provided an arena for Jack Pfeifer to showcase his endurance and precision across complex turns. In the 6x6x6 Cube event, Pfeifer secured victory among 31 entrants with a winning average of 1:25.87 and a fastest single of 1:22.51, besting Garrett's 1:28.65 average and Bennett's 1:47.96. Pfeifer completed a double big-cube triumph by winning the 7x7x7 Cube with a 2:03.44 average and a 2:02.60 single, while Garrett followed with a 2:17.49 average and Bennett placed third with 2:54.88. In the Pyraminx division, Steven Wintringham captured first place with a 2.51 average, narrowly edging Carson Clark at 2.56 and Elliott Perkins at 2.64.

Beyond the podium battles, several competitors made massive strides that made their long journeys to this WCA competition well worth the effort. Robert Dunn delivered the weekend's largest improvement by chopping 60.6 percent off his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to record a 17.73 single, in addition to making his first official Pyraminx attempt with a time of 26.33. Scott Caley slashed his 3x3x3 Cube single down to 9.30 seconds, improving by 45.8 percent, while also recording his first ever official 5x5x5 Cube result at 1:34.01. Parker Stephen Smith improved his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 42 percent to 4.04 and completed his first 5x5x5 Cube attempt at 4:32.88. Elijah Roat improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 40.4 percent to 4.60 and tackled his first official solves in both the 4x4x4 Cube and 5x5x5 Cube.

The spirit of improvement was equally evident across all levels of the roster. Joaquinn Arimany shaved 24.9 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube mark to post a 1:09.28 and took on his first 5x5x5 Cube attempt at 2:04.40. Preston Ross entered six different events, earning a 20th place finish in 7x7x7 Cube with an initial attempt of 4:26.20, an initial 6x6x6 Cube attempt of 3:07.88, and a 14.8 percent improvement on 4x4x4 Cube at 1:09.04. Carson Kurtz took on all seven events, lowering personal bests across 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.16 single, 6x6x6 Cube at 3:25.35, and 7x7x7 Cube at 5:24.82. For newcomer Vihan Talak, the trip marked an official debut across three disciplines, establishing foundational marks in 2x2x2 Cube, 3x3x3 Cube, and Pyraminx.

As timers powered down and equipment was packed away, NxNationwide Lewis Center 2025 concluded as a testament to the growth of the regional scene in 2025. Competitors who braved winter travel returned home with fresh personal milestones, new official attempts, and the satisfaction of testing themselves across seven demanding events. The dedication shown across every heat proved that the drive to solve and improve remains stronger than ever.