Ohio State Winter 2023

Luke Garrett delivered an extraordinary four-event sweep in Columbus, Ohio, USA, capturing top honours in four separate categories to anchor an unforgettable single-day gathering. On December 9, 2023, the Ohio Union opened its doors to a spirited field of 55 competitors taking on 7 official events across 12 fast-paced rounds. Garrett set the benchmark early, posting a 6.35 winning average in the premier Rubik's Cube category with a blistering single solve of 5.96. The energy inside the hall showcased the very best of speedcubing, balancing top-tier speed with the debut milestones that define a community gathering.

For newcomers stepping onto the tournament floor, a debut cubing competition provides an unforgettable atmosphere where personal goals take precedence over podiums. Fresh faces experienced the precise rhythms of official timing, inspection clocks, and judge interactions for the first time. The broader speed cubing circuit thrives on this balance between veteran composure and rookie discovery. As 55 entrants gathered around the solving tables, every bracket offered moments of breakthrough across traditional twisty puzzles and specialised puzzle variations, making this December meeting a memorable chapter for the local scene in the 2023 season.

The main 3x3 results formed the centerpiece of the program, requiring competitors to navigate three rigorous stages to decide the podium. Garrett maintained his control through every round, claiming the victory ahead of Nolan Wood, who finished second with a 6.65 average, and Andy Denney, who took third with a mark of 7.76. Garrett extended his mastery to shorter formats as well, taking first place in the 2x2x2 Cube final with a 1.73 winning average, joined on the podium by Sujan Feist with 1.93 and Denney with 2.52. In earlier qualification rounds, Feist turned in a 1.57 single and 1.78 average, while Wood posted a 1.08 single.

The long-edge and non-cubic puzzles offered high variety across the schedule. In the Pyraminx final, Harsha Paladugu captured the victory with a 2.04 average and a 1.36 best single, narrowly edging Garrett who placed second at 2.19, while Jeriyah Griffin earned third with 2.49. Moving to larger cubes, Garrett locked in two more titles, winning the 4x4x4 Cube with a 28.27 average ahead of Denney and Jack Bohning. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Garrett dominated with a winning average of 2:35.78, clear of Evan Wright at 3:18.49 and Braden Richards at 3:39.34.

Beyond the standard events, the blindfolded solving schedule required total concentration, demanding memorisation under strict tournament rules. In the 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest, Mason Langenderfer secured first place with a single solve of 41.68 seconds, leading Braden Richards at 1:06.42 and David Miguel-Santiago at 1:11.61. The complex 4x4x4 Blindfolded event saw only one competitor register a successful result, as Richards conquered the puzzle in 6:59.23, outlasting Langenderfer, Miguel-Santiago, and Garrett who each recorded a DNF in the final standings.

The heart of the weekend lived within the individual breakthroughs registered throughout the field, away from the medal ceremonies. Jonathan Amrhein entered 5 events and posted a huge Pyraminx personal best of 3.87, which was 71.1% faster than his previous mark of 13.41, while also logging his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with a time of 7:08.16 for a 16th-place finish. Kate Carpenter tackled 4 events, registering her first ever attempts at 4x4x4 Cube with a time of 2:48.79, Pyraminx at 14.17, and 2x2x2 Cube at 12.12. Elan Paulino produced a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 7.64, trimming 36.9% off their previous standard, alongside debut attempts in 4x4x4 Cube and Pyraminx.

That drive continued as Garren Denny-Greathouse cut their 3x3x3 Cube best by 21.5% down to 25.37 while registering first attempts in Pyraminx and 2x2x2 Cube. Aiden Zangmeister logged a first attempt at 3x3x3 Cube in 31.48 and dropped their Pyraminx record by 44.8% to 5.69. Joseph Meidal recorded a 3x3x3 Cube personal best of 13.11, improving by 28.3%, while Daniel Perez Delgado notched a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 3.05, which was 28.6% faster. Marking their first official WCA competition appearances, Lucas Clark tackled 4 events including a 13.70 Pyraminx, and Ben Callis completed 3 events, opening with a 7.66 Pyraminx and 8.35 2x2x2 Cube.

As the final rounds wrapped up at Ohio State Winter 2023, the event reinforced the enduring appeal of the sport across all skill levels. From the top of the podium where United States competitors swept all 22 medal places to the personal milestones recorded across every bracket, the gathering stood as a celebration of dedicated practice. Competitors left the Ohio Union with fresh personal benchmarks and newly forged memories, setting a high standard as the community looks forward to the next season of speedcubing action.