To close out an amazing return to the FIRST competition season, thousands of students, mentors, volunteers, sponsors and spectators traveled to Houston, Texas for the FIRST Championship. For the first time since 2019, FRC, FTC and FLL teams from all over the world battled their way to the Einstein matches at all program levels.
Since 2017, when the FIRST Championship added the Houston event as a second championship to increase team capacity, New England teams have traditionally competed in the northern U.S. event, scheduled in Detroit, MI. This year, FIRST returned to a single World Championship, bringing 453 teams together in one incredible venue and resulting in New England teams officially qualifying for the Houston championship for the first time.
Click below to view all FIRST teams that represented New England in Houston:
The George R. Brown Convention Center featured 6 FRC fields in a row, one large area for all FRC team pits and the entire FLL competition, all on the first floor, with FTC on the third floor. NE FIRST volunteers spent time in the long convention hall looking for teams to receive their We Are NE FIRST flags and take group photos!
New England qualified 25 teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition RAPID REACT Championship. FRC teams made it through at least 125 qualification matches before the end of Friday evening and woke up bright and early Saturday for alliance selection. New England had 4 alliance captains, 11 teams in the playoffs rounds, 5 teams that advanced to semi-finals, 2 that advanced to finals, and ONE that made it all the way to Einstein. Congratulations to FRC 6328, Mechanical Advantage, for representing NE on the biggest stage!
New England qualified 11 teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont to compete in FIRST Tech Challenge FREIGHT FRENZY Championship. Two teams made it to the division finals and one team represented New England on Einstein. Congratulations to FTC 8644, The Brainstormers!
New England qualified 3 teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to compete in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge CARGO CONNECT Championship, as well as one Explore team. Congratulations to the Robo Raptors from Massachusetts for representing all of New England FLL Explore!
Congratulations to all of the FIRST Championship Award winners!
FRC Roebling Division
FIRST Championship Division Winner: FRC 6328, Mechanical Advantage from Littleton, MA
FIRST Championship Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors: FRC 176, Aces High from Windsor Locks, CT
FIRST Championship Gracious Professionalism Award: FRC 6328, Mechanical Advantage from Littleton, MA
FIRST Championship Imagery Award in honor of Jack Kamen: FRC 3182, Athena's Warriors from Hartford, CT
FRC Turing Division
FIRST Championship Division Finalists: FRC 125, NUTRONs from Boston, MA
FIRST Championship Rookie All-Star Award: FRC 8708, Ov3r1y K0mp13x from Dunbarton, NH
FIRST Championship Innovation in Control Award: FRC 125, NUTRONs from Boston, MA
FRC Carver Division
FIRST Championship Excellence in Engineering Award: FRC 1073, The Force Team from Hollis, NH
FRC Galileo Division
FIRST Championship Excellence in Engineering Award: FRC 2168, Aluminum Falcons from Groton, CT
FIRST Championship Judges' Award: FRC 5422, Stormgears from Westford, MA
FRC Newton Division
FIRST Championship Quality Award: FRC 3461, Operation PEACCE Robotics from Bristol, CT
FTC Franklin Division
FIRST Championship Division Finalists Captain: FTC 18438, Wolfpack Machina from Beverly, MA
FIRST Championship Connect Award Finalist: FTC 18438, Wolfpack Machina from Beverly, MA
FTC Jemison Division
FIRST Championship Finalists: FTC 8644, The Brainstormers from Lexington, CT
FIRST Championship Division Winners: FTC 8644, The Brainstormers from Lexington, CT
FIRST Championship Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc. Finalist: FTC 8644, The Brainstormers from Lexington, CT
FIRST Championship Motivate Award Finalist: FTC 16008, Armored Artemises from Glastonbury, CT
FLL Challenge
FIRST Championship Robot Design Award Finalists: The Gummy Bears, Westford, MA