An Incredible End to the Year!

After weeks of relentless effort, our team proudly represented at the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in Houston, Texas, from April 16th to 19th! We earned our spot through outstanding performances at the Wisconsin and Phantom Lakes Regionals, proving our strength throughout the season. Despite a narrow one-week window for preparation and travel logistics, we successfully brought a focused team to Houston.

Our experience in Houston extended beyond competition. We had the privilege of visiting FRC Team 118 Robonauts during their Open House, an invaluable opportunity for learning and networking with teams globally. Witnessing their championship robots and advanced practice facilities provided immense inspiration.

At the Championship, we drew the GALILEO FIELD, one of eight fields named after influential figures in STEM. We competed against diverse teams from all over the US, as well as Mexico, Israel, Türkiye, India, Chinese Taipei, and Canada. Our robot, Barracuda, performed exceptionally well! We loved strategizing and playing alongside teams from diverse backgrounds, constantly adjusting our approach using our detailed scouting data to anticipate every match.

Round Table Robotics made the most of the valuable seminars offered, including "Networking for Introverts," "FIRST Strategy Seminar," and "Women in STEM." The skills we gained will undoubtedly fuel our growth and prepare us for future competitions.

This was an absolutely incredible season – our best robot year since 2018! This success wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of our Coaches and Mentors, who fueled our long nights and extra practices. And of course, a massive thank you to our amazing sponsors! Your contributions allow us to acquire the parts, tools, and supplies essential for competing each year. Special shout-outs to AIM, Zund, National Night Out, Mathnasium, Lion Club, and Texas Roadhouse for their crucial support in making our trip to Houston a reality.

As we look ahead, we're thrilled to welcome a new wave of freshmen and students to the Forge! They've already begun joining our team, and each year we grow stronger with more hands to help build, wire, code, and test our robot – and, of course, to write future blogs like this one!

This summer, our Gender Equality in Manufacturing initiative will host a special course for middle school girls on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6-7:30 PM at East Middle School. We're committed to inspiring more young women to pursue their interests in STEM!

We're already counting down the days with excitement for FIRST's upcoming game, AGE, and the FRC game, REBUILT, which will be released in January of 2026!