Team 11172 Static Discharge became the first Bolles-sponsored FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team to qualify for the FIRST Championship, better known as Worlds – competing against 330 teams at the global event in Houston, Texas.

Coached by Paul Sollee ’88 and Devan Skapetis, the team includes Meghanne Posick ’26, Jay Manohar ’26, Jayan Deshmukh ’26, Nikhil Desai ’29, Sona Deshmukh ’29 and Krish Manohar ’30.

The teams were separated into six divisions, with Static Discharge winning the Innovate Award in the Jackson Division. According to the FTC, this award “celebrates a team that thinks imaginatively and has the ingenuity, creativity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. Elements of this award include design, robustness and creative thinking related to design.”

In 10 qualification matches, Static Discharge posted a 6-4 record, with divisional rankings ranging from as low as 43rd to as high as second. The team’s final ranking of #8 qualified them as a playoff alliance captain.

After selecting two alliance partners, Static Discharge advanced to the double-elimination playoff bracket featuring eight alliances. The team dropped its opening match, 435-359, before rallying with back-to-back wins, 291-286 and 374-350. Their run ended in the fourth match with a 528-353 loss.

The milestone appearance at the FIRST Championship marks a significant achievement for Bolles Robotics, highlighted by both competitive success and recognition for innovation on an international stage. Congratulations, Static Discharge! #BollesInnovates #BulldogProud