The gym at Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School was buzzing with energy on a flurry filled Saturday, January 18, 2025, as it hosted the VEX V5 Robotics Competition. With 31 teams from schools across New York, the event was a showcase of creativity, teamwork and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills.

You could hear the hum of motors, the hiss of air tanks, and the voices of students making last-minute tweaks to their robots. Students competed in autonomous and driver-controlled challenges, all aiming for a spot in the state championships and eventually the world competition in Texas.

Dr. Ivan Katz, Superintendent of Fallsburg Central School District, was proud of the district hosting the event. 

“It’s really nice to be able to host something at home so kids and parents can come and see the fruits of their labors,” Dr. Katz said. “It has become something that so many different kids just want to participate in. It’s really one of our shining stars.”

Fallsburg has been expanding its STEM programs, including more coding and robotics classes.

According to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over 70 percent of countries have introduced coding and robotics into their national curricula, indicating a global trend in technology-based education.

Research from a 2023 study published in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) highlights that educational robotics can improve learning outcomes. 

The Coach 

Don Thomas, Fallsburg’s technology teacher and robotics coach, said that during the tournament, “There are three processes going on simultaneously,” he explained. “Qualification rounds, where teams are randomly assigned alliance partners and compete in six to seven matches; skills challenges, where individual teams try to score as much as possible; and judging, which involves team interviews and evaluations of their engineering notebooks.”

Thomas broke down the scoring system, which involves earning points for stacking rings and positioning them in specific areas. 

“The positive corners double your score, while the negative corners subtract points,” he said. “Some bots even try to climb ladders at the end for additional points.”

Fallsburg began hosting robotics competitions in 2018, with events initially held at SUNY Sullivan. After their partnership with SUNY Sullivan ended, the event moved to Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School. The program has grown steadily along with collaboration among coaches who share costs and equipment to make events like this possible according to Thomas.

“It’s fantastic because it combines everything—science, math, design, and engineering,” he said.

Recruitment for Fallsburg’s program begins at the end of each school year, with demonstrations at elementary schools to spark interest among younger students. Fallsburg even runs VEX IQ, a simpler robotics program for middle schoolers. 

Team 99561B – Starstruck

Fallsburg’s own Team 99561B, ‘Starstruck,’ led by senior Bella Muscia, whose journey into robotics started in fifth grade, inspired by her older brother’s involvement. 

“My brother was in seventh grade and already doing robotics,” Bella said. “I thought it looked so cool, so I decided to give it a try.” Since then, Bella has been hooked, climbing the ranks to become the team’s captain.

“My favorite part is the competitions,” she shared. “We get to meet new people and reconnect with teams we’ve seen before. It’s all about learning and having fun.”

Sophomore Robert Perrera, the team’s builder and programmer, talked about the effort behind the autonomous part of the competition. “It took me about three hours to code,” he said. “It’s all trial and error to make sure the robot runs smoothly in those 15 seconds.”

A round can last two minutes with the robot running autonomously for 15 seconds and then by remote control for the remaining time. 

Another team member, Robin Maldonado, served as the team’s notebook keeper. 

“I log everything we do each day,” Maldonado said. “It’s a crucial part of the process because it shows the judges our progress and teamwork.”

Elisheva Sudranski, a senior who joined robotics during eighth grade, focused on design and art. 

“I’ve always loved creating things,” she said. “For me, the best part of robotics is blending creativity with technology.” Elisheva also highlighted the friendships formed through the competitions. “It’s amazing to see the same faces year after year and build connections.”

Team 99561B finished 

12th overall

The event also brought together teams from all over New York, like the “RoboCavs” from Katonah’s Harvey School and “Fixing Good” from Armonk’s Byram Hills High School. 

Students cheered for each other, shared tips, and formed connections that went beyond the competition floor.