Two High Tech High robotics teams were part of an alliance that won a FIRST Robotics regional competition and went on to compete at the recent international FIRST Championship in Houston.

The Holy Cows consist of students from HTH Mesa/Point Loma village. Team Rewind consists of students from HTH North County. The two HTH teams were part of a three-team alliance with the Grey Bots (Atascadero, Calif.) that won the regional competition.

For Team Rewind, the spot in the FIRST Championship is a first in school history. For The Holy Cows, a Hall of Fame FRC team, the spot in the world competition was the 13th such appearance. The FIRST Championship, presented by BAE Systems, is an international event that celebrates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and took place from April 19-22, 2023. More than 18,000 students from 59 countries competed with team-built robots and showcased innovation skills.

Caroline Sailor, a math and physics teacher who serves as Team Rewind faculty mentor, expressed her pride in working with the students and other mentors. She has a strong background in STEM education and engineering, having studied at MIT and Johns Hopkins University, and believes that the team and program at High Tech High North County stand out for their dedication and passion. Sailor envisions exciting ways to grow and improve the STEM education program at the school, with the goal of reaching more students and providing a comprehensive education.

Team Rewind Robotics was formed in 2020 and represents High Tech High North County. Despite being a small team, consisting of students in grades 9-12, they are driven by a shared goal of achieving big accomplishments and fostering creativity. Each student has strived to gain expertise in various aspects of robotics, including business, programming, and team management, making for a diverse and dynamic team.

The Holy Cows were founded by David Berggren in 2004 at High Tech High in Point Loma, where he was an engineering teacher. The team now works out of HTH Mesa and includes students from the three High Tech high schools in Point Loma (HTH, HTHI, & HTHMA). This is the team’s 13th year competing at the FIRST Championship. The Holy Cows were bestowed with the top honor within the FIRST Robotics Competition, which is the Championship Chairman’s Award, in 2013 and were inducted into the FIRST Hall of Fame. This was an incredible achievement for the team, which strives to raise awareness and appreciation not only for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) within their team but also for their school and the broader community.

Chris Moore, chief executive officer of FIRST, said: “This week at FIRST Championship we saw record-breaking attendance by student competitors and their supporters. The energy at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston has been simply electrifying. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to all the families, friends, and spectators who cheered on these amazingly talented young people.”