Spokane Spring 2024

Twenty-eight competitors gathered at the Millwood Masonic Center on June 15, 2024, bringing high energy to the tables across nine intense rounds. The single-day WCA competition showcased a remarkable blend of newcomers and experienced hands in Spokane, Washington, USA. With five official events scheduled throughout the day, the atmosphere was defined by a large influx of competitors eager to test their skills in an official setting. For many in attendance, the day marked their first steps into the world of competitive speedcubing.

The premier event of the weekend brought three full rounds of classic Rubik's Cube action. When the dust settled in the finals, Judah Smith secured first place in the 3x3x3 Cube with a winning average of 9.14 seconds, bolstered by a best single of 7.74. Ethan George Hayes took the runner-up spot with an average of 9.57 seconds, while Ethan Gotshall claimed third with an 11.57 average. The 3x3 results across the 28-player field proved remarkably sharp, demonstrating how competitive the Northwest speed cubing community continues to be.

Beyond the main event, Ethan George Hayes mounted an exceptional campaign across multiple puzzle categories. Hayes captured top honors in three distinct disciplines, leading the field in the Skewb with a 6.78 average and a best single of 5.07. In the 3x3x3 One-Handed competition, which drew 21 contenders across two rounds, Hayes once again topped the podium with a winning average of 14.26 seconds. His dominance extended into the big cubes as well, where he won the 5x5x5 Cube with a mark of 1:11.37.

The 3x3x3 Blindfolded contest added an element of pure memory and spatial discipline to Spokane Spring 2024. Ethan Gotshall proved to be the sole competitor to log a successful solve in the final standings, earning the victory with a single time of 2:41.14. Jeremiah Rummerfield finished in second place with a time of 10:30.00 among the seven participants who braved the blindfold challenge. Across all categories, the podium spots were heavily contested, with United States competitors capturing eighteen podium places and Canada taking one.

Away from the top steps of the podium, the true pulse of the cubing competition came from competitors setting massive personal milestones and making tournament debuts. Asher Johnson delivered one of the day's most dramatic improvements, cutting his Skewb personal best down to 8.38 seconds, which was 63 percent faster than his previous mark. Benjamin Kirk Patterson took on four events and logged his first official attempts in both the 5x5x5 Cube at 3:15.90 and 3x3x3 One-Handed at 54.16, while also slashing his Skewb personal best by 50.7 percent down to 7.25 seconds to finish eighth.

The breakthroughs continued across the roster as Jaxon Davis entered three events, achieving a best finish of sixth place in 3x3x3 One-Handed with a debut single of 31.81 and improving his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 10.1 percent to 11.00 seconds. Brendan Henning tackled four events, registering a first 5x5x5 Cube attempt of 1:59.49 to place fifth and a first one-handed solve of 42.61. Raman Uladymtsau also made major strides across four events, placing fourth in the 5x5x5 Cube while setting personal bests of 1:51.37 in 5x5x5 and 11.11 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

First-time competitors also made an immediate impression at the venue. Oliver Aufderheide took part in his first official competition, entering two events and finishing ninth in the 3x3x3 Cube with a debut time of 15.03 seconds and a Skewb effort of 8.59 seconds. Logan Helbling likewise made his tournament debut across two disciplines, logging an initial 3x3x3 Cube solve of 24.35 seconds alongside a 13.82 Skewb single. Mason Mills completed his first official solves as well, posting an 8.26 in Skewb and 39.63 in the 3x3x3 Cube.

Spokane Spring 2024 served as a vibrant showcase of individual progress and competitive spirit in the Inland Northwest. From the commanding victories recorded by experienced finalists to the unforgettable first solves of new entrants, the tournament highlighted the steady growth of the regional scene. As the 2024 season progresses, the foundation built by these dedicated solvers promises to elevate the standard of play in future gatherings.