The Punahou School FTC Robotics Team 6962 Pokébolts delivered an outstanding performance at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston, Texas – an international competition that brings together top high school robotics teams from around the world to compete in engineering, programming and teamwork challenges.
Following a strong showing in qualification matches, the Pokébolts secured a 6th-place ranking in the Edison Division, guaranteeing a place in the playoffs. The team went on to captain their own alliance, partnering with Team 8680 Kraken-Pinion from Wisconsin and Team 24571 GreenAms Robotics from Vietnam. In an impressive run, they defeated multiple higher-ranked alliances, including the 4th, 3rd and 2nd seeds.
The Pokébolts’ efforts earned them a finalist finish, placing them among the top 16 teams out of more than 8,600 teams that competed worldwide this season! This marked the first time a Hawaii FTC robotics team has appeared on the world stage as a division alliance captain. The team also brought home numerous medals and trophies, reflecting both their technical excellence and strong collaboration.
The Punahou community proudly congratulates the Pokébolts on their remarkable achievements and outstanding representation on the world stage.
First picture:
Top Row from Left to Right: Julian Williams ’27, Coco Heahlke ’28, Daniel Lin ’26, Kalaʻi Kelekolio ’26, Matthew Matsumoto ’27, Tahan Bapna ’27, Coach Joe Baffoe
Bottom Row from Left to Right: Jayden Leung ’26, Vincent Lau ’28, Tyler Wee ’26
Not pictured: Charlie Koh ’27, Travis Dumaran ’28 – We would not be here without their hard work and dedication throughout the season!