Published April 2, 2025
BY LAITH RODRIGUEZ
After a third place finish in Hollister at a For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics competition, Carmel High School’s “Rockin’ Bots” robotics club is heading to another competition hosted by the same organization in Fresno, which runs April 3-6.
“I’m hoping we get to the world championships, like last year,” says sophomore Alexander Noto-Hagan. “There’s been a lot of improvements we’ve made since the last competition, and we’re progressing past the kitbot’s use in our competition at hollister.”
Junior Maira Gardea and sophomore Adrien Andrade (from left) machining a piece of metal for the competition bot. (Photo by LAITH RODRIGUEZ)
The team reached world championships in Houston last year after winning regionals for Monterey County. Last year the team was asked by the first and second seeds for the regional competition to join them at the championships.
This year, the team had to use parts of a kitbot to finish the competition robot for Hollister due to time constraints. FIRST releases kitbots, a robot kit that new teams can use to go to competitions. The team decided to have members build the kitbot alongside the main robot the rest of the club was building.
“Because we used the kitbot, [the change] didn’t really impact us as much as it could have,” says senior build lead Alyssa Moore. “We were able to be really good at defense and really good at scoring. We didn’t have access to many of the machines we needed. Some of our mills were broken and a lot of our other machines just wouldn’t work.”
The team had to outsource a lot of their materials, which increased build time past the date of competition, where their bots would be inspected by FIRST in order to compete.
“We pivoted really well,” says freshman Griffin Hurd. “I’m hoping that our preparation with the new version of the [robot] goes well. I’m really excited to see it work and get started at the competition.”
Lead mentor Chad Spooner, who has a doctorate in electrical engineering, shares the same ideas.
A member from another robotics team talks with juniors Galen Spooner and Sam Weaver at the competition in Hollister. (photo by AARNA DESAI)
“We’re not just a club that wants to build a robot,”says Spooner. “We want to go to these competitions that FIRST puts on.”
The coach explains that the members of the club do most of the work on the robots, even though mentors are allowed to build. Spooner is trying to create an environment where students interested in robotics and STEM can flourish.
“You learn to use a lot of different tools,” Spooner explains. “We fabricate pieces of metal, and we have to build motors and assemblies, so you learn about bandsaws and mills and routers. Some kids join and have never used a power tool. You learn all about FIRST and robotics in general, and my goal as a coach is that you learn teamwork and engineering processes.”
FIRST selected Reefscape, a game where teams compete against each other by clearing algae off of coral and placing new coral in its place. The setup uses PVC pipes and dodgeballs to simulate the arena and the algae the teams must clear and replace.
“Each time there’s a match, you’re randomly assigned to a three robot alliance,” Spooner explains. “Three robots that are blue play against three robots that are red every match, and you get randomly picked to play. You do that for a couple days and the winners emerge.”
Teams must create robots that meet competition requirements posted by FIRST at the beginning of the competitive year. Spooner elaborated that it is important to build a robot that is helpful in teams, whether it be speed or being able to clear the algae off of the coral in the arena.
Carmel’s Rockin’ Bots are headed to the Fresno County Fairgrounds, where their next competition will be held against and alongside 41 other teams.
