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Ctrl + alt + compete: ASU coders head to world finals

Team blends math, computing and camaraderie to challenge the world’s best in collegiate programming

by | Jun 17, 2025 | Features, Students

The 2025 Arizona State University International Collegiate Programming Contest, or ICPC, team. From left to right: Zilin Jiang, Sahaj Rastogi, Benjamin Jeter and Theodore Gossett. Jiang, an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, is the team’s coach and faculty sponsor. Rastogi is an undergraduate computer science student in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, while Jeter and Gossett are mathematics students in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The ASU team has qualified to compete in the ICPC World Finals in August. Photo courtesy of the ICPC

Imagine this: You and two teammates are huddled around a single computer, five hours on the clock, a dozen difficult problems in front of you. You’ve got to solve as many as possible, using brains, teamwork and flawless code. The problems range from graph theory puzzles to optimization nightmares. The margin for error? Practically zero. You’re judged not just on correct answers, but also how efficiently your code runs.

We’re talking competitive programming. If that sounds like something between a mathlete duel and a hacker sprint, you’re not wrong. It’s a fast-paced, high-pressure intellectual sport where coders race against the clock to solve mind-bending algorithmic problems.

Like all competitive arenas, programming has its own ultimate showdown. The International Collegiate Programming Contest, or ICPC, is the Olympics of college coding. It’s the world’s oldest, largest and most prestigious programming contest for university students. At ICPC events, the best student programmers in the world not only face off in the ultimate test of skill and strategy but also support and learn from one another along the way.

This year, a trio of students supported by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, revived ASU’s ICPC team with their sights set on making their mark on the global stage.

After a stellar performance at the North American Championship in May, the team is headed to the ICPC World Finals in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August.

ICPC teams at North American Championship

The university teams arrived for the ICPC North American Championship in May. At the event, 52 teams from across the continent competed to advance to the World Finals. The ASU team placed 12th, finishing just one spot behind Harvard University and qualifying to advance. Photo courtesy of the ICPC

Meet ASU’s A-Team

ASU’s return to the competitive programming scene is a comeback story worthy of its own Netflix series. The university hasn’t had an ICPC team in over a decade. That changed when Sahaj Rastogi, Benjamin Jeter and Theodore Gossett decided to reestablish ASU’s presence.

Sahaj, an undergraduate computer science student with a background in competitive programming, pitched the idea of forming a team to his classmates. Jeter, an undergraduate mathematics student, brought his experience as a high school mathlete. Gossett, a mathematics doctoral student, rounded out the group with his robust academic expertise.

Fueled by curiosity and competitive spirit, the team got going. For five months, they put in the time, often working more than 15 hours each week to prepare. Wherever and whenever possible, they entered local and regional competitions for practice. In the spring, they attended a training camp at Columbia University and competed in an event at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

And they didn’t do it alone. Zilin Jiang, is an assistant professor of mathematics in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and has a joint appointment in the Fulton Schools. He served as the team’s faculty sponsor and their coach. Jiang, winner of the prestigious 2024 Delbert Ray Fulkerson Prize, which recognizes outstanding papers in discrete mathematics, is passionate about fostering problem-solving communities and regularly encourages students to get involved in clubs where they collaborate, challenge themselves and grow outside the classroom.

ICPC team members

Gossett, Jeter and Rastogi celebrate their success at the ICPC Rocky Mountain Regional Competition, held last November at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Photo courtesy of Zilin Jiang

From regionals to World Finals

Their first major challenge: the Rocky Mountain Regional Competition. Last November, teams from eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces gathered on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The team placed fourth and qualified to advance to the next round.

The team continued to hone their C++ skills and, in May, they headed to Orlando for the ICPC North America Championship. When they weren’t busy cracking the code of competitive programming, they were hanging out with other teams, solving extra problems for kicks and enjoying social events hosted by sponsors like JetBrains and Jane Street.

Rastogi says that the opportunity for networking is one of the best elements of these events.

“The ICPC has a culture of generosity and friendliness,” he says. “Even after the contest ended, we were still discussing solutions to the problems with other teams just because we find it inherently interesting and love to like talk about it with other people who share the same interests.”

At the championship, the ASU team finished 12th, landing just one spot behind Harvard University. Thanks to that performance, they’re heading to the ICPC World Finals in Baku from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5. The team’s travel will be supported by donated funds from Hudson River Trading.

Jiang says he can’t wait to see how the team will do in the finals.

“I’m so proud,” he says. “The team members can be pretty hard on themselves from time to time, but they shouldn’t be. They should really celebrate these fantastic results.”

Donatella Danielli, Foundation Professor and director of ASU’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, which provides critical financial support for the team, says competitive programming is a great demonstration of the synergy between math and computer science.

“Competitive programming is a natural extension of mathematical thinking,” she says. “It challenges students to think critically, apply logical reasoning and develop creative solutions under pressure — all skills that are deeply rooted in mathematics and essential for success.”

Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, is pleased that the school can provide support for the ICPC team.

“Zilin’s dedication to student mentorship and experiential learning is truly inspiring,” he says. “His ability to create spaces where students not only excel academically but also grow as individuals is a testament to the kind of student-centered education we strive for in the Fulton Schools.”

Leveling up for life

Competitive programming is about more than raw intelligence. According to the team, communication, composure and collaboration are the real game-changers. Learning how to handle mistakes, support each other and work efficiently under stress has been key. It’s those lessons they’ll carry with them long after the contests end.

“One takeaway I had is just the importance of fostering a very positive team environment,” Jeter says. “At the start of the year, maybe I was a little too brutally honest during our competitions. Later, I really tried to make sure that I was very encouraging, never judging. This definitely helped us a lot in the NAC.”

Jiang is already looking ahead. In spring 2026, he’s launching a new course at ASU: CSE 598 Introduction to Competitive Programming. The goal? Build a pipeline of problem-solvers and create a vibrant programming community on campus. The class will be open to anyone, even students with zero coding experience.

Whether you’re a math whiz, a gamer tired of boss fights, or just someone who likes a good challenge, competitive programming might be your next obsession. And thanks to ASU’s rising stars, there’s proof that with the right team and a lot of grit, world finals aren’t just a fantasy. They’re a plane ticket away.

About The Author

Kelly deVos

Kelly deVos is the communications specialist for the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. Her work has been featured in the New York Times as well as on Vulture, Salon and Bustle. She is a past nominee for the Georgia Peach, Gateway and TASHYA book awards.

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