Southwest Idaho Newcomers 2025

Evan Beck delivered a statement victory in the premier event, capturing the 3x3x3 Cube title with an 8.95 winning average and a single of 7.54 to set a blistering benchmark for the 2025 calendar. As the early-year speedcubing schedule ramps up across the region, 82 competitors converged on the Courtyard by Marriott Boise West on March 8, 2025, for Southwest Idaho Newcomers 2025. Across 10 rounds of competition, the single-day gathering provided an early testing ground for emerging talent and seasoned contenders alike.

The 3x3 results at the top of the leaderboard established the tone for the entire meet. Beck took top honors in the three-round main event, edging out Ian Lawson, who secured the runner-up spot with a 9.88 average, while Hamilton Lavin claimed third with an 11.06 average. Beck proved virtually unstoppable in the shorter formats as well, securing his second victory of the day in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 2.65 winning average and a best single of 2.19, finishing ahead of Michael Aparicio at 3.79 and Andrew Hart at 3.82.

Completing a triple-crown performance, Beck also secured the gold in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an 18.13 average, highlighted by a single of 16.35. Stevie Shogren took the silver medal with a 20.90 average, and Cade Beck locked up the bronze at 21.48. Across five distinct events, competitors tackled puzzles ranging from the classic Rubik's Cube to intricate big cubes, showcasing their adaptability across multiple formats during a demanding day of speed cubing in Meridian, Idaho, USA.

Ian Lawson made his presence felt on the larger hardware, claiming two decisive victories. In the 4x4x4 Cube, Lawson topped the 36-competitor field with a winning average of 33.28 and a best single of 32.97, leading a podium that saw Evan Beck finish second at 37.22 and Cade Beck place third at 38.32. Lawson repeated the feat in the 5x5x5 Cube, recording a winning mark of 1:03.39 with a 1:01.49 single to outpace Cade Beck at 1:10.09 and Evan Beck at 1:14.69.

Beneath the podium finishes, the tournament served as an important development stage for athletes making dramatic leaps on the clock. Ryker Curry demonstrated massive progression across multiple categories, trimming his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 41.07, which was 50.4 percent faster than his prior standard, while dropping his 5x5x5 Cube personal best by 46.3 percent to 1:24.78. Cody Ashliman advanced his 2x2x2 Cube record to 4.27, a 54.3 percent improvement, alongside his first ever attempt at the 4x4x4 Cube in 1:24.57. Akhvi Jay Octavius lowered his 5x5x5 Cube personal record to 1:42.53, cutting 49.9 percent off his previous benchmark, while Emily Thurston posted a 2x2x2 Cube personal best of 5.25, improving by 35.3 percent.

Fresh faces and expanding repertoires defined the broader narrative at Southwest Idaho Newcomers 2025. Liam Lamansky made his official WCA competition debut by entering three events, earning 14th place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with an initial attempt of 33.29 and logging an 11.06 in the 3x3x3 Cube. Fellow debutant Teagen Grover tackled four separate events, recording an opening mark of 42.47 in 3x3x3 One-Handed and a 7.01 in the 2x2x2 Cube. Somyung Kim also entered four disciplines for the first time, notching an impressive 13.63 in his inaugural 3x3x3 Cube run. Meanwhile, Caden T. Reeder took on five disciplines, putting up a first-ever 1:10.13 in the 4x4x4 Cube and a 2:16.91 on the 5x5x5 Cube.

The 2x2x2 Cube preliminary stages witnessed an abundance of strong marks across the field. A wide contingent of solvers registered personal tournament milestones, with Evan Beck, Grady Wright, Michael Aparicio, Conlin Alzheimer, Cade Beck, Andrew Hart, Stevie Shogren, Ian Lawson, Damian Wilding, and Akhvi Jay Octavius all producing standout times during the opening phase of the event.

As the final timers stopped, Southwest Idaho Newcomers 2025 offered a comprehensive snapshot of where regional competitors stand heading deeper into the year. With 15 podium places distributed across the five disciplines, the single-day cubing competition highlighted both the sharpness of its headline winners and the rapid development of its expanding roster of solvers.