Saint Mikes Winter VT 2026

The tables at St. Michael's College were packed with an eclectic array of twisting puzzles as speedcubing returned to Colchester, Vermont, USA on March 7, 2026. From the massive multi-layered big cubes and shape-shifting mechanisms to the classic 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube, the single-day competition showcased an exhaustive cross-section of official disciplines. Across 13 intense rounds, a focused field of 14 competitors took on eight distinct events, turning the floor into an active testing ground of varied mechanics, shifting ergonomics, and rapid tactical adjustments.

The schedule at Saint Mikes Winter VT 2026 pushed participants through a demanding spectrum of categories, contrasting the lightning turns of side events with the grueling stamina required for large cubes. The traditional 3x3x3 Cube drew the largest lineup, with 14 competitors battling through two rounds to establish the final hierarchy. Yet the broader draw of this cubing competition was its mechanical diversity, testing competitors on the flat planes of Skewb, the triangular geometry of Pyraminx, and the uneven layer cuts of Square-1.

Elijah Rain Phelps proved exceptionally versatile throughout the program, capturing five separate event titles across the day. In the headline 3x3 results, Phelps topped the two-round field with a winning average of 8.07 seconds, anchored by a best single of 6.49 seconds. Derek White took second place on the 3x3x3 podium with an average of 8.46 seconds, while Will Russo finished third with a mark of 9.88 seconds. Phelps showed total command of the shorter events as well, winning Skewb with a 3.64 average and claiming Pyraminx in 3.82 seconds.

Beyond the sprint formats, Phelps demonstrated remarkable control across complex mechanical twists. In the Square-1 competition, Phelps secured first place with an average of 7.46 seconds, outlasting Russo at 12.41 seconds and White at 14.02 seconds. Phelps added another victory in the 5x5x5 Cube, putting together a winning average of 1:02.50 against an eight-competitor field, finishing ahead of Russo's 1:08.17 and White's 1:09.82 to cement a remarkably varied list of top finishes.

The heavier puzzles belonged to Will Russo, who took command when the layer counts climbed higher. Russo captured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a winning average of 2:05.54 and a best single of 1:56.23, holding off Phelps at 2:13.33 and White at 2:19.61. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Russo once again led the way, taking first place with an average of 3:15.19 ahead of White's 3:35.60 and Phelps's 3:37.21. Russo capped his triple-crown of specialist events with a win in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a winning single solve of 57.18 seconds.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across the schedule. Jake Santimore delivered some of the day's biggest drops, slashing 43 percent off his Pyraminx personal best to post a 9.08, while also cutting his Skewb best by 33.7 percent down to 10.84 and improving his 3x3x3 mark to 31.08. Benjamin Headley achieved a 38.5 percent improvement in Pyraminx with a 5.07, lowered his 3x3x3 best by 30.2 percent to 14.09, and placed sixth in his first career attempt at Skewb with an 8.42 result. Kelley Armstrong logged a 24.6 percent improvement on Skewb with a 12.98 personal best, dropped their Pyraminx record to 9.28, and secured a sixth-place finish in Pyraminx.

Other competitors took on brand new disciplines and expanded their repertoire in Colchester. Teddy Owens tackled two events for the first time, logging a 9.18 on Pyraminx and a 2:05.75 on 5x5x5 Cube, while trimming his 3x3x3 record by 19.8 percent down to 14.32 to place ninth. Owen Young contested six events, registering first-time marks of 1:34.80 in 5x5x5 Cube and 3:26.55 in 6x6x6 Cube alongside a fourth-place finish in 3x3x3 Cube. Hobie Tibbits earned sixth place in Square-1 with a personal best 41.72, a 9 percent drop, and completed his first 5x5x5 attempt in 3:00.19. Simon Page took on six events and finished fourth in 7x7x7 Cube, Andreas Petsalis lowered his 3x3x3 mark to 10.90 to finish fourth in Square-1, and Eiger Wu Cranse completed a first-ever official appearance with a 31.22 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

The single-day meet highlighted how much speed cubing has expanded across different disciplines, giving solvers the chance to demonstrate technical range within a single gym venue. With every podium spot swept by United States competitors, the WCA competition proved that mastering high-speed turns on a Pyraminx requires a completely different skill set than managing the grueling piece count of a 7x7x7. The action at Saint Mikes Winter VT 2026 illustrated the complete variety of modern competitive solving, wrapping up an intense day of racing as competitors look forward to the next stops on the regional calendar.