Hudl (Event Streaming)
RoboCats Shine at Black River Valley Scrimmage
The Adirondack (ACS) RoboCats robotics team had an outstanding showing this past weekend at the Black River Valley Scrimmage, highlighting the continued growth of the program and the hard work of its student members.
The event brought together eight teams from across the North Country, including programs from South Lewis, Lowville, Indian River, and General Brown. Hosted by Elizabeth Vaerewyck and the South Lewis RoboFalcons, the competition was held in their new STEAM Lab. The RoboCats would like to thank the South Lewis team for organizing such a well-run and welcoming event.
The scrimmage followed the format of the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) 2025–26 “DECODE” season. Students designed, built, and programmed their robots to complete a variety of challenges, combining problem-solving, teamwork, and technical skills throughout the day.
Representing Adirondack were Sal Pisani (driver), Zach Williams (launcher), Steven Sancomb (coder), Laura Miller (human player), and Drew Weber (future coder), each contributing to the team’s success in a variety of roles.
The RoboCats had an exceptional start to the day, going undefeated in their qualification matches and earning the top overall seed heading into the playoff rounds. Partnering with the Steam Punks from Lowville, the team advanced to the championship match after a strong semifinal performance.
The finals proved to be an exciting and memorable experience, as the RoboCats competed in a closely contested match that even resulted in a rare tie, requiring a rematch. In the end, the team finished as runner-up, capping off an impressive day of competition.
This performance marks the strongest showing in the four-year history of the RoboCats program. With a talented group of students returning next season, the future is bright for Adirondack robotics.
Congratulations to the RoboCats on a fantastic day—FULL STEAM AHEAD!!