PA State Championship
As a first-year rookie team, we earned our invitation to the most prestigious FTC event in Pennsylvania — competing against 40 of the state's best teams. We didn't just show up. We ranked #18 out of 40 teams and took home the Judges Award for our inspiring story, strong performance, and extraordinary potential.
#18
Overall Ranking
Out of 40 elite PA teams
Judges Award
Prestigious Award Won
At the Championship event
40 Teams
Elite Competition
Best teams from across PA
Rookies
First-Year Team
Making history in our debut season
Judges Award — PA State Championship
The Judges Award at the PA State Championship recognizes a team that stands out for exceptional qualities beyond just performance on the field. For a rookie team to earn this honor against 40 elite competitors is a testament to everything Thunder Busters represents.
Rookies on the Biggest Stage
The PA State FTC Championship brings together the top teams from qualifiers held across the entire state of Pennsylvania — teams that have spent years building experience, refining their robots, and competing at the highest level. Thunder Busters arrived as a first-year team.
Over two days of intense competition, our drive team executed our alliance strategy with precision. Our autonomous routine — powered by Pedro-Pathing Bezier curve navigation and AprilTag vision — gave us consistent early-match points. Our Headlock Anti-Defense mechanism kept us scoring even under heavy pressure from experienced opponents.
The judges' panel — a group evaluating engineering notebooks, team presentations, and overall impact — noticed our team's dedication and innovation. When they called our name for the Judges Award, the room erupted.
Finishing #18 out of 40 elite teams as first-year rookies is something we will carry with us for the rest of our STEM journeys. This was just the beginning.
What It Means to Win This
- Awarded by a panel of judges across 40 competing teams
- Recognizes exceptional team spirit, innovation, and impact beyond the scoreboard
- Evaluates engineering design, community outreach, and team collaboration
- One of the most prestigious non-advancement awards at any FTC event
- Given to teams that inspire others — especially remarkable for rookies
Photos from State
Moments captured across two days of competition at the 2026 PA State FTC Championship. Tap any photo to view it full-size.
The Future is Bright
Our rookie season proved what this team is made of. Now we're recruiting for 2026–27 — and we're going back with even bigger goals.