On December 14, Gann Robotics teams competed at the Ryken Robobowl, a real-world robotics engineering competition held at St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Guided by Dr. Moden, who teaches computer science and robotics at Gann, students arrived with robots they had designed and built from metal and plastic components, motors, sensors, and custom parts.
Their work reflects months of thoughtful design, building, and programming by students in Gann’s Advanced Robotics and FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) electives. Gann was represented by three teams at the Robobowl—the Bot Mitzvahs, the Maccabots, and R.A.B.B.I.—each bringing a distinct design approach to the competition.
In Massachusetts, events like the Ryken Robobowl serve as qualifying competitions, with strong performance allowing teams to advance to the Massachusetts State Championship.
At the December event, students tested their robots on a standardized 12-foot square “field,” built from foam tiles and fitted with objects and structures unique to that season’s engineering challenge. On the field, robots are programmed and operated to complete timed tasks, moving and interacting with objects in ways that test engineering design, programming, and control. Focused and energized, students refined their systems in real time—a process that captures the rigor, collaboration, and problem-solving at the heart of Gann’s STEM program.
Engineering excellence is only part of the story. The FTC program places a strong emphasis on character and sportsmanship, encouraging students to practice Gracious Professionalism and “Coopertition”—the idea that teams can cooperate and compete at the same time.
These values align closely with Gann’s mission. With mentors like Dr. Moden, students are empowered to persevere through competitive challenges with both grit and grace. Robots are built to execute complex tasks with precision; students are expected to compete with integrity, respect, and a spirit of sportsmanship.
Below, you can read competition highlights from Dr. Moden, who had a front-row seat to the action:
First up, the Bot Mitzvahs. This team exceeded expectations, benefiting from a few fortunate breaks during the competition. Their alliance ranked #3 out of 12 possible alliances, which is an impressive result. They played strong defense throughout, which made them a valuable partner as opposing teams struggled to accurately shoot balls at the target. The team is very excited about their impressive results and are looking forward to learn from their success as they develop the next iteration of their robot. They also won the Design Award, which recognizes teams that demonstrate an understanding of industrial design principles by balancing form, function, and aesthetics while meeting the season’s challenge.
Next, the Maccabots. The Maccabots had a strong showing and developed a very complex, innovative robot for this season’s first qualifier. The team had unfortunate luck during the competition, drawing some of the hardest competition while being paired with rookie teams. Despite this, they had a very consistent shooting mechanism and were able to score highly throughout the competition. The team ended the competition with a high level of confidence in their ability to design their next robot which will fix errors encountered during the gameplay.
Finally, RABBI. This group faced numerous challenges during the competition, including design issues and insufficient stress testing. Problems ranged from disconnects to battery failures. Leaders of the team stepped up, took ownership of the robot’s condition, and helped rally the team in a positive direction. Despite their hurdles, they won the Control Award, which honors teams that use sensors and software to enhance robot functionality during gameplay. This includes innovative solutions for autonomous operation, intelligent mechanical control, and sensor integration. Solutions should work consistently during matches but need not be flawless.
Joined by a fellow Jewish students from other teams, our students ended the day by lighting candles to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. The hosts very generously let us light candles in the main lobby for the tournament, fulfilling the mitzvah of Pirsum HaNess, publicizing the miracle. The teams are busy planning for the next competition which will take place at Brookline High School on February 1st. We’re looking forward to seeing all of you there!
