Clash in the Canyon: VEX V5 Robotics Competition

Venue: 23620 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, California, United States
Program: VEX Robotics Competition 2025–2026: High Stakes
Date: October 11, 2025
Teams: 36 registered | Matches: 88

PART 1: THE MAIN DATA

Awards

🏆 Tournament Champions
1842A – Eagle Engineering Alpha from Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, California (High School), and 7700R – Rolling Robots R from Rolling Robots in Glendale, California (High School) delivered a flawless playoff run to capture the Canyon title. Their alliance dominated eliminations through precise coordination and exceptional driving discipline. Eagle Engineering’s offensive consistency paired with Rolling Robots’ adaptive field control made them unstoppable in the finals.

🥈 Tournament Finalists
1842C – Eagle Engineering Charlie from Chaminade College Preparatory (High School) and 1842Z – Eagle Engineering Zulu from the same organization showed depth and strategy as they fought through the playoff rounds. Their teamwork and adaptability gave them the edge in several tight matches, making for an exciting championship clash between sister teams.

⚙️ Robot Skills Champion
7700R – Rolling Robots R from Rolling Robots earned the top spot in the Skills Challenge. Their combination of clean driver execution and optimized programming routines secured a commanding lead. Their skills runs reflected both preparation and composure under time pressure.

💡 Judges Award
7700B – Rolling Robots Blue from Rolling Robots in Glendale, California (High School) received the Judges Award for their outstanding collaboration and innovation. Judges praised their commitment to creative solutions, consistent pit professionalism, and contribution to a supportive team environment throughout the day.

🧠 Design Award
1842B – Eagle Engineering Bravo from Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, California (High School) impressed judges with their design documentation and mechanical refinement. Their detailed engineering notebook captured their design evolution, while their robot showcased a strong balance of efficiency and control.

🏅 Excellence Award
7700R – Rolling Robots R continued their standout performance by earning the event’s highest honor. Their consistent dominance across matches, skills, and engineering performance reflected the complete package of teamwork, innovation, and reliability that defines an excellent robotics program.

Skills Challenge Highlights

Driver Skills Top Score: 7700R – Rolling Robots R (Rolling Robots, Glendale, California)
Programming Skills Top Score: 7700R – Rolling Robots R (Rolling Robots, Glendale, California)

PART 2: THE STORY

The hills of Calabasas echoed with excitement as teams rolled into the Canyon for one of Southern California’s most anticipated robotics showdowns. From the first qualification matches, it was clear that strategy and mechanical precision would decide who triumphed. Robots raced across the High Stakes field, executing carefully designed scoring routes that tested both engineering quality and driver focus.

1842A – Eagle Engineering Alpha and 7700R – Rolling Robots R quickly became the teams to beat. Alpha’s precise cycle timing matched perfectly with Rolling Robots’ lightning-fast endgame activations. Their alliance chemistry was clear as they executed each match with a shared rhythm and sharp coordination that left audiences in awe. By the time the finals began, everyone knew they were watching two of the region’s most finely tuned machines in action.

On the other side of the bracket, 1842C and 1842Z made their mark with an all-Chaminade showdown that showcased teamwork, trust, and competitive fire. Their journey to the finals was marked by creativity and composure under pressure. 1842B – Eagle Engineering Bravo impressed judges with their attention to detail and design documentation, earning well-deserved recognition. 7700B – Rolling Robots Blue added flair and collaboration in the pits, contributing to a supportive and inspiring team environment.

As the sun set over the Canyon, cheers and applause filled the venue. The Clash in the Canyon once again proved why California is a powerhouse in the robotics world. Eagle Engineering and Rolling Robots set the tone for an electrifying season, and every team that competed left with new lessons, renewed energy, and the hunger to improve.

RFORCE Commentary

The Clash in the Canyon had everything that defines great robotics: strategy, innovation, and pure passion. The partnership between Eagle Engineering and Rolling Robots showed what happens when preparation meets creativity. Each team pushed the boundaries of what student robotics can achieve, and the excitement was felt in every corner of the venue. Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and competitive spirit.

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