Cyber Warriors win CCDC Regional; earn second straight trip to nationals!

For a second straight year, Indiana Tech’s cyber defense team, the Cyber Warriors, is heading to the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition national championship.

The Cyber Warriors earned their spot on Saturday by winning the Erich J. Spengler CCDC Midwest Regional title—the university’s fifth. They advance to the national competition, which is April 25 through 27 in in San Antonio, Texas. It also means Indiana Tech will finish the season as one of the top 10 cybersecurity teams in the nation for a second straight year.

“We took an early lead on the first day and held onto it throughout the entire competition, clearly showing our capabilities as a top team in the nation. Now, we get to move onto the national championship to test those capabilities once again,” said coach Matt Hansen, an Indiana Tech alum who was a championship-winning Cyber Warrior himself during his time as a Tech student. “I am incredibly proud of this team and the year-round hard work it put in. Something like this doesn’t happen on accident. These students will be technical leaders in the cybersecurity industry, without a doubt.”

Each year, competing cybersecurity teams work to combat attempted network security breaches and related challenges that test their problem-solving, technical abilities and teamwork at every turn. Indiana Tech’s Cyber Warriors have become a regional dynasty and a national powerhouse, having won 18 Indiana state championships, including 11 straight.

Members of this year’s Cyber Warriors team include Tavares Baker, Timothy Bukowski, Avery Hughes, Brody Long, Jeremy MacRoberts, Myles Nieman, Martin Quintana, Samuel Regelbrugge, Martin Topp and Maggie Trowbridge.

For six straight years, every member of the Cyber Warriors has secured a job in their career field prior to graduating. Indiana Tech has also established a growing national reputation as a producer of top talent in the cybersecurity field—so much so it was recognized in 2023 as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Learn more about Indiana Tech’s cybersecurity program and the Cyber Warriors at academics.indianatech.edu/colleges/cyber-center.