Riverton High Teams Compete in the MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge
On October 18, 2025, three teams from Riverton High School competed in the national virtual MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge placing 35th, 37th, and 42nd.
Sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Center (MAGICinc.org) in Maryland, the semi-annual challenge is designed to show students the basic cybersecurity building blocks in a puzzle environment while encouraging logical thinking skills and teamwork.
“All the kids really enjoyed the challenge of CTF. They are going to recruit more kids to participate in the spring. All want to improve their skills in the python and Linux challenges so they can place higher in the event next time. Overall, it was a super successful way to get kids interested in CS (computer science) and Cybersecurity,” said Kate Swistowicz, challenge mentor and Fremont County School District #25 Tech Director.
A Global Competition for Students
Forty-nine national and international teams took part in the Challenge. Participants hailed from the UK, US, Estonia, and Ghana from the following schools: Carroll Community College, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Montgomery College, Capitol Technology University, Montgomery College, Stevenson University, Damascus High School, Glenelg High School, McDonough School, River Hill High School, Seneca Valley High School, Westminster High School, Wilde Lake High School, University of Maryland’s Global Campus and Riverton High School. All the Riverton High School students either worked as information technology interns for Swistowicz or were in RHS’s computer science class taught by Daniel McLane.
Supporting Wyoming Students in Cybersecurity
Wyoming teams’ registrations are paid for with a grant from the Wyoming Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Division. Because the challenge always occurs on a Saturday over lunch, the CyberWyoming Alliance sends pizza to the students.
“With ongoing support from fundraising through WyoGives and collaboration with other organizations, initiatives like the MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge will continue to empower Wyoming students and build a skilled workforce for the future,” said Laura Baker, President Emerita for the CyberWyoming Alliance.
The spring challenge is usually scheduled in mid-April. If you’re interested in participating, keep an eye on https://cyberwyoming.org/magic-ctf/ for registration details.
