Swallow Spring 2023

Luke Garrett set an unrelenting pace at Swallow Elementary School, taking down three separate titles on April 22, 2023. While the analytical silence of Fewest Moves challenges competitors to craft intricate solutions with pen and paper away from rapid turning, speed events demand instant reflexes under pressure. Garrett showcased that raw turning speed throughout the day in Hartland, Wisconsin, USA, capturing top honours across multiple formats. His standout performance led an action-packed schedule featuring 133 competitors tackling 12 rounds across five diverse disciplines.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube competition gathered 132 entrants across three rounds of intense competition. Garrett asserted control in the final, securing first place with a winning average of 6.16 seconds alongside the best single solve of the event at 5.61 seconds. Ben Zhao earned the runner-up position with a 6.44 average, narrowly edging out Zeke Mackay, who finished third at 6.48 seconds. These decisive 3x3 results capped a high-calibre display of modern Rubik's Cube solving in the heart of Wisconsin.

Garrett continued his winning ways in the 4x4x4 Cube, navigating two rounds to top an 89-competitor field. In the final round, Garrett delivered a winning average of 27.78 seconds and a best single of 26.14. Brian Johnson pushed the winner to the wire, securing second place with an average of 27.85 seconds, while Zhao collected his second podium of the weekend by taking third in 29.17 seconds. The battle demonstrated remarkable precision on the larger puzzle.

In the Megaminx event, Garrett completed his gold-medal trio against 55 competitors across two rounds. Garrett posted a winning average of 40.93 seconds and a best single of 38.46 seconds to claim a clear victory. Zhao reached the podium once again to take second place with an average of 44.73 seconds, while Tyler Robinson earned third place with a mark of 45.01 seconds. Garrett proved nearly untouchable across the extended formats.

Away from Garrett's multi-event sweep, Brian Johnson delivered a masterclass in the Skewb. Navigating three rounds among 93 competitors, Johnson took first place with a 2.45 winning average and a lightning-fast single solve of 2.15 seconds. Carter Kucala followed in second place with an average of 2.82 seconds, closely pursued by Simon Kellum, who clinched third with a 2.83 average. In the Clock event, Reed W. Richardson topped 66 competitors across two rounds, averaging 4.54 seconds with a best single of 3.78, besting Garrett's second-place average of 4.74 and Carter Thomas in third at 4.97.

Beyond the top steps of the podium, Swallow Spring 2023 provided a platform for competitors across the roster to achieve remarkable personal breakthroughs. Adrian Millan entered five events and recorded a huge 54.6 percent improvement in the Skewb with a personal best of 9.82 seconds down from 21.64, alongside a 3x3x3 Cube best of 12.61 seconds, and made a first official attempt at Clock with 40.39 seconds. Jonathan Rukstales slashed his Skewb best by 50.4 percent to 6.51 seconds, improved his 3x3x3 Cube single to 8.07 seconds, and completed a Megaminx debut solve in 1:43.81. George Christopher Sparks cut his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 53.8 percent to 12.71 seconds down from 27.50 and logged his first 4x4x4 Cube attempt at 1:44.82.

Other competitors took on expanded programmes and notched impressive milestones throughout the speed cubing weekend. Noel Long dropped his Skewb single by 42.8 percent down to 5.86 seconds, chopped 31.4 percent off his 4x4x4 Cube time to reach 40.77 seconds, and tried Clock for the first time with 29.03. Carter Cieslewicz entered five events, cutting his Clock best by 39.5 percent to 13.26 seconds, reducing his Skewb mark by 34.7 percent to 3.38, and registering an initial Megaminx solve of 2:22.73. Colin Sharpe took on five events, improving his Skewb personal best by 45.4 percent to 5.08 seconds, lowering his 4x4x4 Cube mark to 1:23.86, and submitting a first Megaminx result of 2:31.46. Isaac Shailor posted a Clock best of 16.06 seconds while recording debut attempts in Megaminx at 1:41.18 and Skewb at 6.35, and Kyle Solomon tackled five events with first attempts in Megaminx at 3:02.05, Clock at 14.69, and Skewb at 7.68.

The 2023 gathering in Hartland showed the full depth of modern speedcubing, balancing high-speed execution across rotating puzzles with sheer determination from all 133 participants. Across twelve rounds of action, every podium position went to United States competitors in an exceptional demonstration of national talent. As another intense WCA competition drew to a close, the weekend demonstrated the continuous evolution of solving technique heading into the next chapter of the season.