Bay Area VIQRC Mix and Match: Tournament #2

Venue: Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School, East Palo Alto, California, United States
Program: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025–2026: Mix & Match
Date: October 4, 2025
Teams: 46 registered | Matches: 150

PART 1: THE MAIN DATA

Awards

🏆 Teamwork Champions

81777A – Fire Phoenix from Belmont Robotics in Belmont, California (Middle School), with their robot Ignis, and 95133G – Eagle Tech from Eagle Robotics Club in San Jose, California (Elementary School), joined forces to take the Mix and Match title in commanding fashion.
This alliance combined precision engineering with fearless driving. Fire Phoenix delivered flawless stacking consistency, while Eagle Tech’s quick maneuvering and autonomous precision complemented it perfectly. Together, they powered through eliminations with unstoppable rhythm and earned a well-deserved championship banner.

🧠 Design Award

8990X – RoboThinkers from Evergreen Middle Robotics, based in San Jose, California (Middle School), earned the Design Award through meticulous documentation and thoughtful engineering. Their robot’s balance of creativity and function impressed judges who praised their iterative approach, clean wiring, and smart component choices. RoboThinkers turned their design notebook into a roadmap of innovation.

⚙️ Robot Skills Champion

81777A – Fire Phoenix from Belmont Robotics (Middle School) proved unstoppable in the Skills Challenge. Their flawless execution across both driver and programming categories showed hours of disciplined preparation. Every move was deliberate, every decision calculated. Fire Phoenix secured their second major award of the day, cementing their reputation as one of Northern California’s elite teams.

💡 Judges Award

9261A – Cyber Pioneers from Cupertino Robotics Academy in Cupertino, California (Middle School) were honored with the Judges Award for their professionalism, perseverance, and positive energy. The judges highlighted their problem-solving mindset and constant willingness to help others in the pit area, embodying the best spirit of the VEX IQ community.

🔧 Innovate Award

11450A – TechnoMinds from Santa Clara STEM League, Santa Clara, California (Middle School), stood out with bold mechanical solutions and inventive coding. Their robot integrated modular subsystems that allowed fast reconfiguration between matches. Judges applauded their creativity and ability to turn technical curiosity into competitive performance.

🏅 Excellence Award (Middle School)

4028X – RoboDreamers from East Palo Alto Youth STEM Alliance in East Palo Alto, California (Middle School) combined consistency, communication, and a strong engineering process to claim the top middle school honor. Their teamwork both on and off the field made them a model for the next wave of California robotics leaders.

🏅 Excellence Award (Elementary School)

61666C – Mini Sparks from Silicon Valley Elementary Robotics in Sunnyvale, California (Elementary School) earned the top elementary distinction. Their enthusiasm and strategic mindset stood out from the start, as they fearlessly took on older teams while maintaining focus and adaptability. Mini Sparks left a lasting impression with their drive and creativity.

Skills Challenge Highlights

• Driver Skills Top Score: 81777A – Fire Phoenix (Belmont Robotics)
  
• Programming Skills Top Score: 81777A – Fire Phoenix (Belmont Robotics)

PART 2: THE STORY

The Bay Area came alive for Mix & Match as 46 teams filled Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School with energy, innovation, and fierce competition. From the first match to the final playoff, the event never lost momentum. Every student, mentor, and parent in the gym could feel the spirit of creation that drives VEX IQ robotics.

Alliances experimented with new autonomous routes, adjusted strategies between rounds, and discovered creative ways to maximize points on the field. As the matches intensified, teamwork and adaptation separated the good from the great.

The champion alliance of 81777A and 95133G delivered near-flawless runs that balanced precision and agility. Their success was a testament to preparation and composure under pressure. Meanwhile, 8990X continued to demonstrate technical mastery through their design and mechanical control, while 4028X and 61666C brought balanced performances that reflected the rising standard of excellence in both divisions.

From East Palo Alto to San Jose, every team left inspired and motivated for the next challenge. The Mix & Match season in California is off to an incredible start, and this tournament proved why the Bay Area remains a hub for robotics talent.

RFORCE Commentary

This tournament was a perfect example of what makes the VEX IQ community so powerful: innovation, teamwork, and the excitement of creation. The Bay Area’s young engineers are setting a high bar early in the season. Congratulations to all award winners for their achievements and for inspiring the next generation of roboticists.

—

Written by the RFORCE Editorial Team
For the dreamers, the builders, and the next generation of innovators.