On April 28, 12 members of the Sisters 1st Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 8513 from Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., traveled to Houston to compete alongside more than 600 of the top teams from around the globe at the FRC World Championship. Qualifying for Worlds for the third consecutive year was a remarkable achievement, one made possible by the dedication and collaboration of both the Business and Technical subteams.
Preparation for the 2026 season began as early as Aug. 2025. Business subteams, including Media, Community Outreach, Development, and Program Management, kept the team running smoothly, producing promotional content, securing sponsorships, and organizing Villa’s first annual Trivia Night, which helped raise a portion of the $100,000 needed to fund the season. They also led meaningful outreach efforts, from helping Brownie troops earn robotics badges to hosting the school’s annual blood drive and maintaining a dynamic digital presence.
At the same time, the technical subteams of Fabrication, Design, Programming, Electrical, Strategy, and Scouting trained new members in essential skills such as machining, CAD (computer-aided design), 3D printing, CNC operation, Java programming, and match strategy. By the time the season officially kicked off in January with this year’s game, Rebuilt, the entire team was prepared to meet the challenge.
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After winning both of their district events, Sisters 1st advanced to the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship, where they competed against the top 66 teams from New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, and finished as Alliance Finalists. Along the way, they earned two Autonomous Awards and a Quality Award, securing their place at the World Championship.
At the World Championship in Houston, Sisters 1st competed in a division of 75 teams, including several ranked among the top 25 in the world, they finished qualification matches with an outstanding 8–2 record, placing 7th overall. The team also achieved a new program-high score of 803 points. Entering the playoffs, 8513 served as captain of Alliance 6, partnering with top-ranked teams from China and Kansas. The team’s exceptional engineering was further recognized with the Industrial Design Award, celebrating innovation and design excellence.
This season concluded with a 50–13 record. Sisters 1st brought home two additional blue banners and finished ranked 2nd in New Jersey, 49th in the nation, and 64th in the world, placing them among the top 1.7 percent of teams globally. The team earned an award at every competition they attended this season, a distinction achieved by only 45 teams in FRC history.
As their robot Rubi makes its way back to campus from Houston, the sisters’ 1st team reflects on a season defined by hard work, innovation, and teamwork. Congratulations to the team on an extraordinary year. The Villa Walsh community could not be prouder!
