Loyola Blakefield Cyber Advances Five Teams to CyberPatriot XV Semifinals
December marked the State Round of the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot XV, the nation’s largest youth cyber defense competition. Teams competed in their brackets for state-level awards and to secure a spot in the Semifinal Round in January. Loyola Cyber is advancing two high school teams and three middle school teams to the semifinals, which will take place January 20–21.
Over the course of the season, high school teams are separated into three competitive brackets based on skill level—the Platinum Tier represent the top 30% of teams nationally; the Gold Tier represents the middle 40%; and the Silver Tier represents the remaining 30%. For the eighth year, Loyola has secured the top two places in the Platinum Tier for the state of Maryland. This is the first year they didn't sweep the Platinum Tier in the State Round, with Our Lady of Good Counsel taking third place.
Over the course of the season, high school teams are separated into three competitive brackets based on skill level—the Platinum Tier represent the top 30% of teams nationally; the Gold Tier represents the middle 40%; and the Silver Tier represents the remaining 30%. For the eighth year, Loyola has secured the top two places in the Platinum Tier for the state of Maryland. This is the first year they didn't sweep the Platinum Tier in the State Round, with Our Lady of Good Counsel taking third place.
1st Place - Open Division Platinum Tier
Gracie Brehm, NDP '23
Anshul Shelapurath '23
Nick Jacob '23
Casey Nazelrod '25
Valerie Runge, Carver '23
Ben Scholtes '23
Gracie Brehm, NDP '23
Anshul Shelapurath '23
Nick Jacob '23
Casey Nazelrod '25
Valerie Runge, Carver '23
Ben Scholtes '23
2nd Place - Open Division Platinum Tier
Charlie Hale '23
Dylan Keller '24
Michael Litrenta '24
Teddy Marine '24
Aidan Sachs '24
Jack Wachter '24
The Middle School Division follows a different qualification model with the top 50% of teams advancing to the semifinal round. Loyola has captured the top two state awards in the Middle School Division for the past seven years. This year, they swept the state of Maryland and captured all three awards!
Charlie Hale '23
Dylan Keller '24
Michael Litrenta '24
Teddy Marine '24
Aidan Sachs '24
Jack Wachter '24
The Middle School Division follows a different qualification model with the top 50% of teams advancing to the semifinal round. Loyola has captured the top two state awards in the Middle School Division for the past seven years. This year, they swept the state of Maryland and captured all three awards!
1st Place - Middle School Division
Landon DuBois '28
Nick Fought '27
Matthew Maraña '27
Nathan Porter '27
Cole Rohrbach '27
Landon DuBois '28
Nick Fought '27
Matthew Maraña '27
Nathan Porter '27
Cole Rohrbach '27
2nd Place - Middle School Division
Grant Benegas '28
Chris Bever '29
Patrick Counselman '29
Finn Mitchell '28
Porter Nachtman '27
Liam Yates '28
3rd Place - Middle School Division
Joey Acchione '29
William Barker '29
Jacob Braxton '29
Will Mascari '29
Austin Pitarra '29
Congratulations to all of our Cyber Dons and program director Mr. Steve Morrill for another dominant performance. View full results from each round of the competition here.
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire K–12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. At the core of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, the nation's largest cyber defense competition that puts high school and middle school students in charge of securing virtual networks.
