The FTC World Championship is part of the larger FIRST Championship event, which brings together students competing in FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST LEGO League (FLL). Teams from across the globe gather to showcase months of engineering, coding, design, and teamwork in one of the most prestigious robotics events in the world.

For the Wired Cats, simply earning a place at the championship was already a major achievement. Leo Lyra ’26 and Oliver Norkun ’26 were excited to share their experience in Texas as a final sendoff in their senior year. They were joined byLeopoldo Lyra ’26, Oliver Norkun ’26, Yundi "Eric" Chen ’27 , and led by Science faculty members Joe Echanis ’89 and Mike Norkun.

“I think it has been the dream of every Wired Cat since the team started competing over 13 years ago,” one team member shared. “It was amazing, overwhelming, and surreal all at once. I was so proud of how the Wired Cats overcame adversity and found unique ways to help win matches that were never in the plan.”

Another student reflected on the significance of the accomplishment for both the team and Vermont Academy. “This is our first time to the world championship, also the best result in Wired Cats team history,” the student said. “We made other people know about Vermont Academy and showed that great engineers can come from little towns.”

Preparing for a competition of this caliber required balancing robotics work alongside academics and spring athletics. Team members spent countless hours designing, building, coding, and modifying the robot whenever they could find time together. “We tried our best to prepare for the competition,” one student explained. “we still got a solid result. I think we can go much further next time if the robot is more prepared.”

Upon arriving in Houston, the team quickly realized they would face significant technical challenges. Many of the robot’s upgrades had not yet been fully tested, and key systems still required adjustments. Instead of panicking, the Wired Cats adapted in real time. “When we got there, we found that the robot was not ready for competition,” a student recalled. “We fixed issues after matches and even brought the robot back to the hotel to keep working on it.”

During several matches, the team discovered that scoring systems on the robot were unreliable due to technical issues. Rather than continuing with a strategy that was not working, the team shifted its approach entirely. “Our robot was not ready to shoot because of technical issues, so we quickly adapted and started to focus on defense,” the student said. “Our defense actually worked really well and became better than some teams that could only score.”

That flexibility became one of the team’s defining strengths throughout the championship. One mentor explained how the team turned setbacks into opportunities. “Instead of continuing to do the same things that weren’t working, they started thinking about what they could do well,” the mentor said. “Out of that came a defensive strategy that allowed them to capitalize on penalties while making it harder for opponents to score.”

One of the Wired Cats’ most memorable moments came during a match alongside Team 18227, Area 52, where the alliance achieved a season-high score of 309 points.

Students also reflected on the excitement of simply being surrounded by thousands of passionate STEM students from around the world.“The first match was unforgettable,” one student said. “Even though it was a practice match, I was nervous and excited for what would happen over the next four days.”

Beyond competition, the experience provided valuable lessons about collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. “It’s important to iterate your robot fast,” one student explained. “Other teams have more opportunities to compete and gain experience. We learned a lot from watching how other teams solved problems and tried to apply those ideas to our own robot.”

The team also encountered unexpected mechanical issues midway through the event, including drivetrain problems during competition. Team members worked together under pressure to troubleshoot and repair the robot quickly between matches. “We found the problem, went through different possibilities, and suggested different solutions,” the student said. “Everyone contributed.”

As the Wired Cats look ahead to future seasons, they hope their success inspires younger students to get involved in robotics and STEM opportunities at Vermont Academy. “We are always looking for new talent, and anyone can find a place on the team,” a mentor shared. “We need builders, coders, CAD designers, strategists, drivers, managers, and outreach leaders. No experience is necessary because experienced students help mentor newer members.”

Students echoed that message with enthusiasm and optimism for the future. “We need creative and innovative students to join our team,” one student said. “And we will get to Worlds again next year.”

For a program that began more than a decade ago, the Wired Cats’ trip to Houston marked not only a historic accomplishment, but also the beginning of an exciting new chapter for robotics at Vermont Academy. The Wired Cats team is composed of a few more key members who were instrumental in the completion of 8403 Alexander Linnenbringer ’26, Luke Pennell ’26, Blake Postles ’26, Tammy Pattayakorn ’26, and Lynn Campbell ’27.