Robotics Impress at Sates; Wolfpack Secures FTC Worlds Spot

Waring School’s robotics teams, Wolfpack Machina and Lupine Robotics, delivered impressive performances at the Massachusetts FTC Championships held at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Competing among 36 teams from across the state, both teams demonstrated skill, innovation, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment.

Lupine Robotics, a young and ambitious team with many members participating in their first full season, placed 11th in the qualification rankings. They also earned second place in the Innovate Award category, which recognizes innovative robot mechanical systems. This achievement underscores the team’s creativity and engineering prowess, marking a significant milestone for a developing team.

Meanwhile, Wolfpack Machina secured a spot at the FTC World Championships, showcasing exceptional performance throughout the day. Despite a 3-2-0 win-loss record in the qualification matches, Wolfpack’s non-penalty Offensive Power Rating (npOPR) was an impressive 166.7—the second highest at the event and 138th in the world. This metric, which measures the average points contributed per match, highlighted the strength and consistency of their robot.

The day began with an early start due to the time change, with both teams arriving at the competition ready to take on the challenge. After setting up their pits and passing inspection, they moved on to judging and then into the opening ceremonies. Waring’s computer science mentor, Richmond Obeng, guided Lupine Robotics through the event, allowing the team’s coach, Francis, to focus on Wolfpack Machina. Obeng’s contributions were vital to Lupine’s success, providing mentorship and support throughout the season.

During the elimination tournament, Wolfpack Machina partnered with a first-year team with a solid robot, advancing all the way to the final match. Although they were ultimately defeated by the event’s strongest alliance, GNCE Diamond and Tech Tigers, Wolfpack’s journey to the finals was a testament to their skill and perseverance. The team’s hard work paid off when the Tech Tigers, who also won the Inspire Award, opened up a qualification spot for Wolfpack to advance to the World Championships.

For Lupine Robotics, the day concluded with optimism and a clear path forward. Many team members are heading to France as part of Waring’s Group 2 trip, and the team is setting its sights on participating in additional post-season events, including MTI and HRI. Achieving a strong placement at States as a predominantly 9th-grade team is a remarkable outcome and sets a solid foundation for the future.

Wolfpack Machina will now prepare for the FTC World Championships, scheduled for April 15-19. While the team plans to make some enhancements to their robot, their focus will not be on a complete rebuild. Instead, they aim to make the most of the World Championship experience, cheering for other teams, learning from their peers, and embracing the global community of young engineers and problem solvers.

Waring School extends its gratitude to its sponsors, ShopBot and Symbotic, whose financial support and expertise were instrumental to the success of the robotics program. The administration’s commitment to providing a dedicated space, a real budget, and time in the academic schedule has also been vital. Special thanks go to the parents for their unwavering support, late-night practice sessions, and countless hours of driving and encouragement.

For those who want to relive the excitement, full match footage is available online. Key moments include Wolfpack’s match 9 of the eliminations (6:21:30) and Lupine’s match 45 (4:35:10).

Watch the full event here: FTC Championships Livestream

The entire Waring community celebrates the achievements of Wolfpack Machina and Lupine Robotics. Their success is not only a victory in competition but also an inspiring example of innovation, collaboration, and learning in action.