US CYBER TEAM HEADS TO BOCHUM, GERMANY TO COMPETE IN THE 2026 EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGE
Team USA returns to international competition as defending ECSC Guest Bracket Champion after finishing second overall in 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 8, 2026 — Katzcy PlayCyber today announced the US Cyber Team roster that will head to Bochum, Germany, to compete in the 2026 European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC), taking place October 12–16.
Ten of the nation’s top young cyber athletes, supported by three coaches and staff, will represent the United States against national teams from Europe and guest countries in one of the world’s leading cybersecurity competitions for emerging talent. The US Cyber Team returns to ECSC after a standout performance in Warsaw in 2025, where Team USA won the Guest Country Bracket and finished second overall.
The 2026 US Cyber Team delegation competing in Bochum includes:
**Competing athletes**- Adrian Self — Captain
- Nakul Choudhary
- Sylvie Mayer
- Seth Williams
- Nicolas Posada
- Owen Kwan
- Ariel Khais
- Macen Bird
- Ethan Ho
- Austin Stitz
**European Camp**
- Victoria Plinski
- Gwendolyn Vongkasemsiri
**Coaches and Leadership**
- Kristi Rice
- Gaelin Shupe
- Shiloh Smiles
- Brad Wolfenden — Director
- Jessica Gulick — Commissioner
The European Cybersecurity Challenge brings together more than 400 competitors from 42 countries in Bochum this year. Competitors will face practical cybersecurity challenges spanning areas such as web security, cryptography, reverse engineering, software and hardware vulnerabilities, digital forensics, and other disciplines. Competition includes both Jeopardy-style Capture the Flag and live Attack-Defense formats.
“This is about much more than a scoreboard,” said Jessica Gulick, Commissioner of the US Cyber Games and CEO of Katzcy PlayCyber. “These athletes are developing the technical ability, communication, resilience, leadership, and teamwork required of tomorrow’s cybersecurity workforce. International competition lets them test those skills under pressure while building friendships and professional relationships with some of the world's best young cyber talent. We are honored to compete on behalf of the nation.”
A TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM
The US Cyber Games sincerely thanks the coaches, trainers, mentors, coordinators, and technical experts who have invested their time and expertise throughout the year to prepare Team USA for international competition. Their year-round work supports athlete development across technical specialties while strengthening the communication, strategy, teamwork, and competitive readiness necessary to perform successfully on the international stage.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Katzcy PlayCyber and the US Cyber Games proudly recognize the support of NIST NICE, CISA, Riverside Research, Leidos, Mastercard, Battelle, and our travel sponsors Kindo and EGroup, along with the many organizations and industry partners that contribute technology, expertise, training, and resources to the program.
ABOUT THE EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGE
The European Cybersecurity Challenge is an annual competition for national teams of young cybersecurity talent. The 2026 competition will be held October 12–16 in Bochum, Germany, with more than 400 competitors representing 42 countries. Teams compete in practical cybersecurity challenges through Jeopardy and Attack-Defense formats while also participating in networking and international collaboration.