Loyola Blakefield Cyber Team Earns National Recognition with Second-Place Finish at CyberPatriot Finals
Team Axios, representing Loyola Blakefield’s cyber science program, has achieved national distinction with a second-place finish in the Cisco Networking Challenge at the prestigious CyberPatriot National Finals Competition.
CyberPatriot—the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association—is one of the nation’s premier STEM initiatives. Designed to inspire K–12 students to pursue careers in cybersecurity and other critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the program places students in real-world scenarios that mirror the responsibilities of IT professionals.
At the heart of the program is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, where teams are tasked with managing and securing a simulated company network. Over multiple rounds of online competition, students must identify and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities across various operating systems while maintaining essential services. Only the top teams in the country advance to the National Finals—an all-expenses-paid event held in Maryland—where they compete for national recognition and scholarship awards.
Team Axios rose to the challenge, demonstrating exceptional technical skill, teamwork, and problem-solving ability to secure second place in the highly competitive Cisco Networking Challenge.
The team is composed of (pictured left to right): JT Nachtman ’26, Patrick Dishon ’26, Connor Counselman ’26, Billy Nicholson ’26, Matthew Kocorowski ’26, and Kai Cooke ’26. Their success reflects countless hours of preparation and a deep commitment to excellence in cybersecurity.
The program is led by its founder and director, Mr. Steve Morrill, whose leadership and vision have been instrumental in building Loyola Blakefield’s nationally recognized cyber program.
This achievement not only highlights the talent and dedication of Loyola’s students but also reinforces the school’s commitment to preparing young men for leadership in an increasingly digital and security-conscious world.
