FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Building on a Legacy of Excellence: Xavier High School Robotics Makes History, Advances to FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship
Local robotics team seeks community sponsors as they prepare to represent Connecticut on the global stage in Houston, Texas.
MIDDLETOWN, CT – March 6, 2026 – Culminating years of sustained regional success, a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team from Xavier High School has qualified for the World Championship in Houston, Texas, marking a historic first for the school’s esteemed program. The “FullMetal Kestrels” secured their spot on the global stage after a stunning performance at the Connecticut State Championship at UConn, where they competed alongside the top 30 teams in the state on February 21.
FIRST Tech Challenge is a rigorous program where high school students design, build, program, and drive robots to compete head-to-head. This year’s complex challenge required teams to engineer robots capable of collecting and launching plastic balls into large goals, forming specific patterns for bonus points, and executing precise parking and stacking maneuvers—including a highly technical 30-second “Autonomous” period where the robots operate entirely on pre-programmed instructions and sensor data.
While a trip to the FTC World Championship is a milestone first, Xavier Robotics has been punching above its weight in the competitive robotics arena for years. The program’s long-standing culture of engineering excellence was on full display this season, fielding a deep bench of talent by sending four distinct, highly competitive teams to the State Championship: the FullMetal Kestrels, the FullMetal Peregrines, the FullMetal Phoenixes, and the Semi-Platinum Penguins. Remarkably, all four Xavier teams advanced to the elite 12-team playoffs, proving that the school’s success is built on a broad, sustainable foundation of STEM education.
The FullMetal Kestrels emerged as members of the winning alliance at the State Championship, becoming one of only three teams from Connecticut to advance to the World Championship.
Following closely behind, the Semi-Platinum Penguins finished third overall as an Alliance Captain. Their outstanding performance earned them an invitation as one of only five teams to qualify for an international Premier Event, giving them the opportunity to compete globally in Canada, Europe, Mexico, or the United States.
Throughout the season, continuing their multi-year tradition of excellence, all four Xavier teams were recognized by FIRST judges for their engineering ingenuity, design, and community outreach:
- FullMetal Kestrels: 1st Place Alliance Partner (x2), 1st Place Alliance Captain, 2nd Place Alliance Captain, 3rd Place Inspire Award, Connect Award, and the Control Award (at the State Championship).
- Semi-Platinum Penguins: 1st Place Alliance Partner (x2), Design Award (x2), and the Think Award.
- FullMetal Peregrines: 2nd Place Alliance Partner and the Reach Award.
- FullMetal Phoenixes: Innovate Award.
This sustained level of competitive excellence is fueled by the program’s unparalleled mentorship. Lead Mentor Bob Gammons, who has guided the teams since 2021, brings aerospace-grade engineering expertise directly to the high schoolers. A former Mechanical Systems Design Engineer at Grumman Aircraft, Gammons’ career includes contributions to legendary projects such as the Apollo Lunar Module and the F-14 Tomcat jet fighter. By working alongside mentors who have engineered actual history, Xavier students gain real-world insights that set them apart on the competition field.
“Qualifying for the World Championship is a dream our students have worked toward for years,” said lead mentor Bob Gammons. “They design, build, program, and test everything themselves. Watching them solve real engineering problems at this level is incredibly rewarding.”
Call for Community Sponsors — Act Now to Be Featured at the World Championship
Sending a team to the World Championship in Houston is a massive logistical and financial undertaking. Because the Xavier Robotics program is completely self-funded, it relies entirely on the generosity of sponsors to operate and travel. The team is currently seeking financial support from local businesses and community members to help make this journey possible.
This is a unique opportunity for local businesses to support STEM education while being prominently represented on a global stage. Sponsors will have their logos and branding featured on the team’s apparel and promotional materials at the World Championship, which is attended by tens of thousands of future engineers, tech leaders, and international spectators.
To ensure sponsor logos can be included on team shirts before the World Championship in April, sponsorship commitments must be received soon. Businesses interested in being part of the team’s international journey are encouraged to act quickly to secure their spot.
To help the FullMetal Kestrels take on the world and to view sponsorship packages, please visit:
https://fullmetalfalcons.org/sponsors/
Approved Media available at Media – Fullmetal Falcons
Media Contact:
Scott Tompkins
Mentor, Xavier High School Robotics
Email: scott.tompkins@gmail.com
Phone: +1 (860) 995-6728
Website: https://fullmetalfalcons.org