Global Youth Robotics Takes Flight in the 2025-2026 VEX IQ Challenge: Rapid Relay
Elementary and Middle School Teams Redefine the Playing Field in October’s RFORCE Rankings
The Rapid Relay season of the VEX IQ Challenge is heating up fast. As October’s RFORCE Index rankings roll in, we’re witnessing a fascinating power shift among the world’s brightest young robotics minds. From California to China and across Australia, student engineers are demonstrating that age is no limit to ingenuity, precision, and teamwork.
Top 10 IQ Teams (October – 2025-2026)
Key Highlights
California Claims the Crown
The U.S. has reclaimed the top spot in style. GaGaGuGu from STEM Cupertino has exploded into first place with a phenomenal RFORCE of 109.60, marking one of the largest single-month jumps ever recorded in the IQ division. Their precise coordination and design execution have set a new global standard.
Joining them in the top five is Chronos (#4) from Fremont, and Gold Bears (#9) from San Jose, solidifying California’s dominance in this month’s rankings.
Australia’s Deep Talent Pool
Australia continues to prove that its youth robotics programs are world-class, now holding five of the top ten positions.
- CHEESY APPLES holds strong at #2 with an impressive 98.02, maintaining their elite performance from September.
- Tech Bosses (#3) and Team Go (#8) both debut in the top ten, representing Trinity Grammar Preparatory, a growing powerhouse in the Australian robotics scene.
- Barker Greybacks ES (#6) and Grinding Gears (#7) demonstrate the consistent quality of New South Wales engineering education.
Australia’s consistent presence across multiple schools showcases the country’s national commitment to STEM excellence at the elementary level.
China Remains a Force
China’s 杭州二中白马湖教育集团 holds steady at #5 with 87.48, representing both resilience and long-term excellence. Despite fierce international competition, the Hangzhou-based team has remained a global benchmark since topping the charts in September. Their consistency reflects China’s strong robotics infrastructure and emphasis on early technical education.
RFORCE Trends
| Metric | RFORCE |
| Highest | 109.60 |
| Lowest | 79.50 |
| Top 3 Average | 99.69 |
The 30.10-point spread between first and tenth place shows a wider performance gap this month, driven primarily by GaGaGuGu’s breakout performance. Still, positions #3 through #8 are separated by less than 5 points, suggesting the mid-tier race is tighter than ever heading into November.
Global Representation
- Australia: 5 teams
- United States: 4 teams
- China: 1 team
After China led in September, Australia has now taken the global lead in representation, while the U.S. has surged in strength at the top of the rankings. The diversity of teams across continents highlights the global reach of the VEX IQ Challenge, where cultural and educational systems converge through innovation.
Grade Level Breakdown
| Level | Teams |
| Elementary School (ES) | 6 |
| Middle School (MS) | 4 |
Elementary programs are continuing to thrive, claiming the majority of top spots, while middle school teams like GaGaGuGu, CHEESY APPLES, and Team Go demonstrate that experience and refinement are the keys to sustained success.
Season Outlook
With GaGaGuGu’s meteoric rise and Australia’s deep bench strength, the VEX IQ landscape has entered a new phase of competitiveness. As November tournaments approach, all eyes are on whether these young engineers can maintain their momentum—or if new challengers will emerge to disrupt the balance.
Expect China to return with reinforcements, and watch for middle school teams to continue tightening their hold on the upper leaderboard. Rapid Relay’s fast-paced format will only amplify the creativity, adaptability, and teamwork that define the world’s most talented young roboticists.
About the VEX IQ Challenge
The VEX IQ Challenge introduces elementary and middle school students to robotics engineering through fun, accessible, and competitive design challenges. Each season pushes creativity and collaboration as teams build and code robots to navigate complex objectives. The 2025-2026 season, Rapid Relay, emphasizes coordination, precise timing, and cooperative play—perfectly aligning with the next generation’s spirit of innovation.
See the full RFORCE IQ rankings and team stats at rforce.vision
Stay tuned for the November update to track rising teams and shifting dynamics in the world’s most inspiring youth robotics competition.
Questions or press inquiries? Contact us at customer-support@rforce.vision.