The Western Pennsylvania State Championships competition was held March 9 at PennWest Clarion. The team previously earned trips to the world stage in 2024 and 2025 as state tournament finalists, and this year continued that streak with another finalist finish, but the 2026 championship proved to be the team’s most successful state performance yet by finishing as Triple World Qualifiers.

The Warren Area High School team also captured the Robot Skills Champion Award, posting their best skills score to date of 138. Completing the trifecta, Team 52575C was awarded the event’s top honor, the Excellence Award, which recognizes overall excellence in both judged and performance categories. According to VEX Robotics, the Excellence Award recognizes overall excellence in both the Judged Award and the Performance Award categories. “Winning the tournament itself can be a complete fluke,” said driver Lincoln Olsen. “Things can happen. A robot can break. That doesn’t show the full capacity of a team. The Excellence Award demonstrates that you are a team that operates at the best capacity whether it be out of competition, such as notebooking or design process or competition. Excellence includes qualification rankings, skills driver ranking, skills autonomous ranking, and your notebook and interview scores.”

The team entered the state tournament following a season that saw them ranked 139th globally according to the RoboScout app out of more than 13,000 VEX Robotics teams. The team will compete from March 16-18 at the 2026 CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Championship Council Bluffs, Iowa. The national event brings together top-tier teams from across the country.

“The team had a solid performance and was consistent throughout the day. 52575C has proven their quality with earning the Excellence Award, the most prestigious recognition a team can receive from the REC Foundation. It’s a great day to be a Dragon,” said advisor Arthur Anderson.

The three world qualifying awards won by Warren Area High School VEX Robotics Team 52575C, “I Can’t Pronounce That!” are pictured.

The students will then advance to the VEX Robotics World Championships, scheduled for April 21-24, in St. Louis, Missouri. In recent years, the global competition has been held in Dallas, Texas, but was relocated this year due to the deconstruction and redevelopment of the convention center. The move to St. Louis carries special significance for the Warren team. The city is home to the Gateway Arch, a monument with deep ties to Warren, where much of its iconic stainless-steel structure was originally engineered and fabricated.

The trip will mark the first opportunity to visit the landmark in person for every member of the team.

“Realistically, my goal is to make it to the elimination rounds, but I really want our team to make it to the dome,” said team member Mason Moore. Of the 13,298 teams around the world, approximately 800 will go to St. Louis. Of those, 320 make elimination rounds, and only 32 “make it to the dome.”

The “dome” Mason refers to is literally the world’s stage in the stadium where the final matches are played and the global champ is crowned.

Members of Team 52575C include Donald Anderson, Rebecca Anderson, Abbi Cornman, Liam Ferry, Mason Moore, Phil Nickerson, and Lincoln Olsen. All are sophomores and juniors. The team is advised by Arthur and Elizabeth Anderson.

52575C's robot 'Clementine' (green) is pictured during competition. The drive team from left is Lincoln Olsen, Mason Moore, and Liam Ferry.

With just over a month until the international competition, the team is currently seeking additional support to help cover travel and competition expenses. The Warren Area High School Robotics Club is largely funded by the team itself and by the families of participating students.

Those wishing to support the team may make checks payable to WAHS VEX Robotics Boosters and mail them to: WAHS VEX Robotics Boosters, PO Box 24, Warren, PA 16365

Members of Warren Area High School VEX Robotics Team 52575C are pictured making adjustments between matches.

Members of Warren Area High School VEX Robotics Team 52575C are pictured during the judges interview portion of the competition.