Great Oak High School Brings the Mayors Cyber Cup Home to Temecula

Back-to-back champions present the perpetual trophy to Mayor Jessica Alexander — and honor retiring coach Christian Meglio, the team’s namesake, as a new generation of advisors takes the helm.

TEMECULA, Calif. — June 9, 2026 — Students from Great Oak High School returned the perpetual Inland Empire Mayors Cyber Cup trophy to the City of Temecula tonight, presenting it to Mayor Jessica Alexander during the regular City Council meeting after capturing the 2026 high school championship. The win keeps the Cup in Temecula — where it has resided since 2022 — and caps a milestone season for a cybersecurity program built by a teacher now stepping into retirement.

Competing as “The Real Christian Meglio,” a team name chosen in tribute to their longtime coach, the Great Oak squad finished first in the high school division, scoring 1,540 of a possible 2,075 points against the region’s top high school teams. With the victory, Great Oak earns back-to-back high school honors and the right to present the traveling trophy to their mayor on behalf of the city.

A region-wide competition, a year-round program

Now in its 7th year, the Inland Empire Mayors Cyber Cup is produced by the Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) collaborative in partnership with synED. The 2026 cycle drew 538 students across 53 teams, supported by 35 coaches, who together logged 7,716 cybersecurity challenges on the program’s training platform. Notably, 67% of participants were brand new to cybersecurity — underscoring the Cup’s role as an on-ramp into the field.

What began in 2018 as a single-day competition has grown into a year-round ecosystem, giving students and educators continuous access to training labs, curriculum-aligned resources, and direct exposure to the regional employers who will be hiring them in the years ahead.

About the perpetual trophy

The Mayors Cyber Cup is a perpetual trophy: each year’s winning team adds an engraved plate and presents the Cup to the mayor of their city, where it is displayed until the next competition. The trophy has remained with the City of Temecula since 2022, a streak Great Oak extended with this year’s win.

“Temecula is overjoyed to once again host the Mayor’s Cyber Cup. These exceptional students represent the future of innovation and cybersecurity, and their achievements showcase the talent, determination, and excellence that make our schools and our community so strong.”

— Jessica Alexander, Mayor, City of Temecula

Honoring a retiring coach — and a program built to last

This year’s presentation carries special meaning. Christian “Chris” Meglio, the Great Oak computer science teacher and cyber club advisor who built the school’s program, is retiring at the close of the 2025–26 school year. His students paid him the ultimate compliment, competing — and winning — under his name.

The momentum he created will continue. Sam Cummings has been appointed to lead the Great Oak cyber club going forward, with support from veteran computer science teacher Jason Slowbe. IEGO has committed to staying engaged with Great Oak and the Temecula Valley Unified School District to sustain the relationships and resources Meglio established.

“Watching these students grow into confident, capable problem-solvers has been the highlight of my career. The program is in great hands, and I can’t wait to see how far this next generation goes.”

— Christian Meglio, retiring coach, Great Oak High School

“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too,” said Reg Javier, Interim CEO of IEGO. The Mayors Cyber Cup, he added, is designed to keep building “skills, confidence, and connections to real opportunity” well beyond competition day.

About the Inland Empire Mayors Cyber Cup

The Mayors Cyber Cup is a regional cybersecurity competition and year-round talent-development program produced by the Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) collaborative in partnership with synED, regional community colleges, K–12 districts, chambers of commerce, and industry leaders across the Inland Empire. The program aligns with the California Department of Education’s vision to expand computer science access in every classroom.

Media Contact

Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO)

Suzanna Sotelo, Special Projects Coordinator

[email protected] | (951) 346-8123 | iegocollab.com

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The Real Christian Meglio team and coach with the Temecula mayor and city council.

The IE Mayors Cyber Cup perpetual trophy with 7 years of winners