Anderson High School robotics team, the ausTIN CANs, is wrapping up a successful year of competition in the world of competitive robotics.

The competition season culminated in back-to-back weeks of participation in two different World tournaments.

The ausTIN CANs robotics team has more than 30 team members, each participating on function-based project teams including programming, CAD, business, manufacturing, electronics, pneumatics, gameplay strategy, and community outreach. Students gain real-world leadership and professional development skills throughout the process and most go on to major in a STEM-related field in college.

Anderson High School’s ausTIN CANs attended the FIRST® World Robotics Championship held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston April 17-20. The team was one of 400 FRC teams who came together from across the globe to participate in this year’s game, “Destination Deep Space.” Teams represented various regions of the United States as well as internationally from countries including Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, China, Turkey, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia.

The competition placed the ausTIN CANs in the Hopper Division of 68 teams, and the team finished the tournament as Alliance 4 Captain after rising to be ranked #4 in the Division. This is the highest ranking in the 13-year history of this AISD team. 

“I’m really proud of the team for qualifying for the FIRST® championship and excited to see how the robot performs among the best teams in the world,” said Karsyn Rich, ausTIN CANs student president. “As one of seven seniors on the team, I am psyched to finish my high-school robotics career by competing against international teams in Houston this week." 

"What we’re doing is way more than a competition. There’s so much going on with robotics, it’s amazing,” said Vincent Wrencher, Anderson robotics teacher and lead mentor, adding, “The students are learning things that matter for their future employment, and they are having fun doing it.”

Students reported the World Competition was great fun, both on and off the competition field. One highlight was a Finals celebration at Minute Maid Park which included a spectacular firework display.