While Benjamin is increasingly known for its state-recognized sports teams, there is another activity in which the school excels: robotics. The Benjineers have historically attended not only States but Worlds as well, and this year is no different. In order to partake in these competitions, the robotics team must plan out, build, and code for a fully functional robot. This task is made even more difficult by the changing criteria for the robot every year.
The high school robotics competition is fierce and crowded, as nearly 7,000 schools nationwide have groups competing for a chance to make it to the World Championships. This intense competition is part of the reason why the 2025 Benjineers are so proud to make it one step closer to this goal by qualifying for states.
“This is so exciting for our program and for the students involved. Only 4% of the teams registered for our region this year are from Palm Beach County, and we are the only school in Palm Beach County attending States!,” shared Innovation Department Chair Ms. Debra Perretta.
This year’s Benjineer team is split into three groups and, in turn, has three robots. The first is 33418X, which is worked on by seniors Ethan Cave, Kate Hilzenrath, John Lacy, Alex Napier, Christopher Tighe, and Oliver Olsson-White. 33418 A is the second robot and was made by seniors Alex Colucci, Sawyer LeFevre, Chase Odom, and Mattias Skantze and juniors Han Tang and James Tepper. The last robot made by the Benjineers is 33418Y, and the students involved are sophomores Mackenzie Bryan, Jayden Jean-Baptiste, Connor Johnson, Ian Kaufman, and Emmett Scott and freshmen Jack Carney, Dakota Griffis, Sophia Lapter, and Max Walsh. Each robot has differences in code and build that make them unique.
Han Tang explains what his robot is coded to do: “Our robot is built to compete in a 2vs2 game where robots must put rings onto mobile goals and move these goals around to score points. Team members on our team help build, code, and drive the robot during competitions.”
Not only do these robots need to be perfected in the building and coding department, but they also need to be driven and controlled correctly in order to do well at competitions. This is just another skill that is practiced by the Benjineers at their meetings after school.
Tang shares what his team is doing to practice for the State Championship: “We are preparing by practicing driving and making sure the robot is fully functional.”
Excellence has become the norm for the Benjineers, and for various members of the team, this year is not the only year they have excelled at competition.
“This will be the fourth year at States for several of our members,” said Ms. Perretta.
Now that the Benjineers have reached their goal of qualifying for states, they have set their aspirations higher and believe that they can achieve these new hopes.
“We are hoping to either do well enough at skills or win an award so that we can go to worlds later this year,” explained Tang.
On March 8, the Benjineers went to States, and robot 33418X earned a spot at Worlds. Robot 33418A is on a waitlist and will be the first team to go to Worlds if a qualifying team cannot. We hope they continue to see success!
