CIS RoboGrizzlies crowned champions of VEX IQ National Robotics Championship again!

On February 6 and 7, the RoboGrizzlies turned in an unforgettable performance at the 2025–2026 ACAMIS National VEX Championship in Shanghai. The weekend culminated in Team 54037F claiming the Excellence Award and being crowned National Champions, officially securing CIS a repeat trip to the VEX World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.

This prestigious award honors the complete package: outstanding competitive performance, engineering excellence, strong teamwork, and overall program quality.

• Excellence Award – Team 54037F

• Robot Skills Champion Award – Team 54037F

• Teamwork Second Place – Team 54037F

• Teamwork Third Place – Team 54037E

• Innovate Award – Team 54037Z

"This achievement also marks the culmination of a season that began with students from Grades 4 to 9 at CIS, forming 12 VEX IQ teams, all united by one dream: to qualify for Worlds. These results reflect not only individual talent but the overall depth, discipline, and competitiveness of the RoboGrizzlies program."

——Mr. Todd Voykin

CIS Director of Technology and Innovation

What follows is a reflection shared by Mr. Todd Voykin, who — alongside our teachers — has watched season after season of focused training, thoughtful collaboration, and the relentless determination our RoboGrizzlies bring to every match.

"When 54037F was announced, the room erupted. Students jumped up, coaches and parents cheered, and emotions poured out. The dream became real again."

— Mr. Todd Voykin

A Season Built on Growth, Discipline, and Relentless Effort

From the very first week of the season, students dedicated themselves to constant improvement — early mornings, late evenings, and every hour in between.

Robots became sleeker and more refined.Code became faster and more reliable.Drivers sharpened their control and strengthened their communication under pressure.

As the season unfolded, the teams learned to stay composed, adapt mid-match, and value every single second on the field.

"This year we recognized that note-taking is a key part of robotics. We started organizing our notebook into different sections and categories, splitting it into three books including our daily logs and game rule explanations. We also used our notebook for designing and brainstorming, and it turned out really well."

"Our first robot design was based on a scorpion-style pickup we saw on YouTube, which used a beam and pin under the standoff to reach 110. But that proved difficult. We switched to a simpler design with just one beam on the standoff, tested repeatedly, and finally developed a successful new version: two pins on top of the standoff holding a beam."— Team 54037F

This progress shone through at every competition. Following scrimmages and rigorous testing, the teams built confidence and momentum leading into the ACAMIS Regional Championships in Shenzhen. All 12 RoboGrizzlies teams competed, with five earning spots at Nationals — supported by major awards including Teamwork Champion, Design, Innovate, Skills Champion, and Excellence.

Nationals: Pressure, Precision, and the Fight for Every Point

In the weeks leading up to Nationals, our teams worked tirelessly to refine every detail. Our robots were engineered to grab, move, and stack pins and beams with speed and consistency — and at this level, even a fraction of a second could decide the outcome.

"We spent 60% more time programming our autonomous code. This year's autonomous was far more challenging than last year's — especially tasks like grabbing pins and beams with precise, consistent movements. It took us much longer to learn, program, and fine-tune everything correctly."

— Team 54037F

Day 1: Consistency and Strong Placement

From the opening of Nationals, the competition was tightly contested. Rankings shifted constantly as alliances changed. Three RoboGrizzlies teams remained in the top 10, with Team 54037F battling near the top against powerhouse teams from Shenzhen and Shanghai. 

Day 2: Maximum Pressure

Day 2 delivered nonstop tension. Rankings rose and fell with every round.

Then, in the final qualifier: Team 54037F clinched 1st place overall. CIS also secured 5th, 9th, and 17th places — proof that the RoboGrizzlies are not a one-team success story, but a deep, competitive program.

Finals: One Point from Greatness

Ten alliances took the field, and energy surged with every round. The ninth alliance set a high bar with 240 points, putting intense pressure on the tenth and final alliance. In that last round, Team 54037F and Team 68702A stepped onto the field focused and confident. They knew what they were capable of, and if everything clicked, they could surpass 250.

For most of the match, everything did click. Early scoring was strong, a full tower landed quickly, and stacks formed exactly where they needed to be. Then, in the final seconds, the kind of tiny moment only robotics competitors truly understand changed the ending. A beam placement caused a top pin to pop out, dropping a stack; another double stack toppled while being placed in the red triangle goal, meaning it would not count.

The buzzer sounded. The venue went silent as referees tallied the score. Then the number was announced: 

239. One point short.

A recount confirmed the result.

The moment was heartbreaking — but also a powerful lesson: At the highest level, one single point can change everything.

Then came the awards. When the announcer called 54037F, the entire RoboGrizzlies community erupted. Students jumped to their feet, coaches and parents cheered, and the expression on the 54037F team shifted instantly from nerves to disbelief, then to pure joy and relief. The dream was real — again!

CIS had earned a repeat qualification to the World Championships, and Team 54037F had earned it completely.

Looking Ahead: World Championships, Here We Come

With Worlds locked in, the mission evolves.

A new robot will be built.

New mechanisms will be tested.

Every weakness will be identified and strengthened.

The RoboGrizzlies will step onto the world stage representing not only CIS — but China.

Next stop: St. Louis, USA!