Sunshine Coast Grammar School’s Year 12 Robotics Team, the Iron Lions, has taken centre stage on the international circuit, winning the FIRST Tech Challenge Asia Pacific Open Championships held in Sydney over the weekend.
Competing against 19 teams from countries including China, Dubai, India, South Korea, USA and New Zealand, the Grammar team emerged as champions, claiming both the Winning Alliance Captain and the prestigious FIRST Inspire Award.
The Inspire Award is the highest award presented in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition. It recognises a team that best embodies the spirit of the competition by demonstrating excellence in robot design, performance, teamwork, and community outreach. The winning team is considered a model for other teams, showcasing Gracious Professionalism® and inspiring others through their passion for STEM.
Comprising four dedicated students, the team brought together their combined expertise in coding, computer-aided design and engineering to create a robot that was unmatched. The team remained undefeated in the playoffs and won 14 of the 15 matches played across the competition.
The team’s collaborative mindset, gracious professionalism and strategic gameplay were evident throughout the competition, particularly during the alliance selection process. Their decision to partner with India’s Team Kryptonite proved successful, leading to a championship win.
Having worked together for over 12 months, the team has capped off an extraordinary season with international success and is already focused on next season, with a goal to compete in the World Championships in 2026.
The winning robot was originally designed for last year’s National competition, where the team placed second. Under the direction of the Head of Digital Innovation, Mr Justin Pembroke, and Head of Extended Learning, Mrs Brenda Gahan, the tech-savvy students have enhanced the speed of vital systems, reduced the weight of the robot by 5kg and explored the use of composite materials. These improvements ensured a faster, robust, and more efficient machine that is capable of tackling challenges with precision.
Mr Pembroke and Mrs Gahan highlighted the team’s professionalism, noting the students' strong self-motivation and self-management.
“The team demonstrated extraordinary creativity, resilience, and technical mastery. We are thrilled to watch them continue to evolve and represent Grammar with pride,” said Mr Pembroke.
The Emerging Technologies program continues to build momentum and the championship win follows notable achievements last year, where 38 primary and secondary students competed in both the FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge, with three teams advancing to National Championships.
