[Game fields in the event, photographed by Yubin Kim]

On the weekend of March 8th, 80 teams competed at the California Region 2 competition for a qualification to the 2025 World Championship.

Only a few teams out of the 80 competing could earn a qualification through the event based on awards as well as performances in the tournament, robot design, and robot skills.

Teams brought together their knowledge and experience that they had gathered throughout the season to put on their best performance and compete with one another.

The event was held over the course of two days, which consisted of a skills challenge, qualification matches, and elimination matches.

Teams competed in ten qualification matches each with a randomized alliance, familiarizing themselves with the objective of each match — to score more points than the opponent through different game strategies and tactics.

A team’s performance throughout the matches determined their ranking, which later played a role in choosing an alliance for elimination matches.

This year’s winners of the elimination matches were teams 1888A Heavy Metal Mush and 95111V Garage Productions, two teams who succeeded in victories to claim their title as tournament champions.

The two teams along with eleven others who have qualified will be eligible to compete at the World Championship in May in Dallas, Texas.

“Our team was really able to put together what we’ve learned in teamwork and skill this past season,” says the captain of 6374B. 

The team qualified for Worlds Championships through the skills challenge. “We hope to continue succeeding at worlds too.”

For high school students in the bay area, participating in the VEX Robotics program serves the purpose of growing important skills such as teamwork and perseverance while simulating a competitive and educational environment.

Competitions such as these are hosted throughout the season by VEX robotics, an education program founded in 2007 that encourages leadership, creativity, and problem solving through STEM.

VEX Robotics hosts tournaments with teams across 40 countries participating.

The organization runs eight different programs ranging from Pre-K to University grade levels — each program hosts competitions and workshops tuned to their specific audience. 

Participants in each program are trained to practice time management, communication, and leadership amongst their teams, fostering a sense of community and learning throughout.

The State Regionals event that took place in March is a part of the VEX V5 program, which represents the fifth generation of educational robotics.

This program is specifically aimed at teaching students skills needed in the modern workforce and everyday life, pushing users to develop critical thinking and aid design development.

Even without a qualification to the next competition, the program nurtures a learning and motivating environment that encourages participants to develop skills useful outside of just the program.

The VEX Robotics program hopes to continue to inspire students to tackle new obstacles and face new challenges in the upcoming games and competitions.