Cyber Defense Team from Coastal Georgia Wins Regional Cybersecurity Competition

A team of cyber defense students, proudly calling themselves “Badfellas,” clinched victory in the regional online cybersecurity competition Cyber Fire Puzzles, hosted by the College of DuPage from Nov. 19–24, 2025. The winning foursome — Connor Laugs, James Maudlin, Hilton Westenskow, and Jonathan Wall — demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the multi-day event.

Cyber Fire Puzzles is a contest-style experience designed for participants of all skill levels. Unlike traditional competitions, the event offers both drop-in and dedicated formats, allowing individuals and teams to tackle a series of challenging puzzles at their own pace. Categories include computer forensics, cryptography, mathematics, general computer science, and more, providing a comprehensive test of cybersecurity knowledge.

What makes this team stand out is its recent performance on the national stage. Just weeks earlier, Badfellas placed 73rd out of 4,214 teams in the National Cyber League Team Games — a remarkable achievement that underscores its growing reputation. For Wall and Westenskow, this was only their second collegiate cyber competition, making their rapid rise even more impressive.

“In every cyber challenge, the real test isn’t breaking the system, it’s proving you understand it well enough to protect it,” Wall said, who is a freshman.

This victory highlights the expanding talent and expertise among cyber defense students and underscores the importance of hands-on, problem-solving experiences in preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Pictured (from left to right) are students James Maudlin, Hilton Westenskow, Connor Laugs, and Jonathan Wall.