Washtenaw Winter 2023

A total of 109 competitors gathered at Washtenaw Community College for Washtenaw Winter 2023, turning Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA into a bustling hub of competitive speedcubing on February 11, 2023. Across 9 events and 13 rounds of play, the single-day WCA competition showcased both elite talent and rising stars. The energy in the venue was powered by high-stakes competition and a relentless march of personal bests, making the weekend a memorable stop on the 2023 cubing calendar.

The 3x3 results topped the schedule, where Luke Garrett put together an outstanding performance on the classic Rubik's Cube. Garrett captured the title with a winning average of 5.65, bolstered by a 4.81 best single in the final round. Owen Widdis secured second place with an 8.43 average, while Stanley Chapel finished third at 8.55. Garrett's clinical execution across both rounds of the event proved to be the standard of the entire contest.

Beyond the main podium, the speed cubing battle in the 3x3x3 rounds brought a cascade of personal milestones across the board. In the preliminary stages, Luke Garrett logged a 5.13 single and 6.46 average, while Stanley Chapel posted marks of 5.79 and 8.01. Owen Widdis notched a 7.08 single alongside an 8.17 average. Further down the ranks, Sean Cutshaw recorded a 7.59 single and 9.53 average, William Harris delivered a 7.60 single and 9.19 average, and Carson Davis turned in an 8.24 single and 9.85 average, proving the immense depth of the field.

Multiple disciplines rounded out the packed schedule. Stanley Chapel put on a masterclass in the blindfolded events, winning the 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a top single of 17.51 ahead of Gabriel Williams V at 37.33 and Mason Langenderfer at 41.16. Chapel also claimed the 4x4x4 Blindfolded crown with a time of 1:30.71, and dominated Pyraminx with a 2.64 winning average, edging Quinn Lawson at 2.69 and Luke Garrett at 2.76. In the marathon 5x5x5 Blindfolded, Mason Langenderfer topped the podium with a 9:30.61 single.

The big cube events saw Kate Grahame sweep the board with remarkable precision. Grahame captured the 6x6x6 Cube title with a 1:36.51 winning average and a 1:33.48 single, leading Stanley Chapel at 1:52.02 and Luke Garrett at 1:52.60. Grahame returned to the table to win the 7x7x7 Cube with an average of 2:30.54, besting Garrett at 2:40.84 and James Hildreth at 2:50.47. In Megaminx, Luke Garrett collected another gold with a 41.86 average, while Sean Cutshaw took Skewb in 3.83 seconds.

Away from the top steps of the podium, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones that highlighted the depth of the gathering. George Zhang made huge strides by dropping his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 47.7 percent down to 16.84 seconds, alongside his first ever attempt at Skewb with 12.62 and Megaminx with 2:35.05. Ethan Duke shaved 44 percent off his 3x3x3 Cube mark to finish in 10.91, cut his 6x6x6 Cube time by 26.7 percent to 3:13.63, and recorded his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube with 4:36.17. Kelton Eric William Kyro slashed 41.1 percent off his Pyraminx best to hit 6.42 and improved his 3x3x3 time by 26.4 percent to 11.04.

Other competitors took on demanding multi-event programs with equal determination. Brandon Michael Kszywonos trimmed his 6x6x6 Cube time by 37.8 percent to 3:13.40 while logging his first ever attempt at 7x7x7 Cube in 6:44.85 across 5 events. Rence Leon entered 7 events, posting a 36.2 percent improvement in 6x6x6 Cube to 3:23.34, taking 4th in 4x4x4 Blindfolded with a 7:14.16 debut, and logging a first ever attempt in 3x3x3 Blindfolded at 1:32.04. Grant Bruns tackled 7 events and earned 10th in Megaminx with a 1:07.69 debut, while Isaac Semrau entered 5 events, recording debuts in Skewb at 5.93, Megaminx at 2:07.10, and Pyraminx at 6.69. Evan Schulz contested 6 events, posting debuts in 6x6x6 Cube at 4:37.65 and 7x7x7 Cube at 6:40.69.

All 27 podium places across the nine events went to competitors representing the USA, underscoring the regional strength on display. From the lightning-fast turns of the short puzzles to the intense concentration required in blindfolded solving, the competition proved to be a comprehensive test of dexterity and mental endurance.

As the day wrapped up, Washtenaw Winter 2023 stood as a vibrant showcase of talent and progress. With dozens of breakthrough performances and dominant showings from seasoned champions, the event closed out a thrilling chapter in Ann Arbor and set a high benchmark for the competitive year ahead.