Northwood’s Team 6300 made its 2025-26 season debut at Robot Rumble, at Ballston Spa High School, an off-season meet organized by Tech Valley FIRST. Matches ran all day, with plenty of teams and supporters in the stands.
“It went really well,” said Orrin Tracy-Deuss ’27. “I wasn’t expecting how competitive it would be when we got there. I’ve never really been in a setting like that, and it used a lot of new muscles for me.”
The Northwoodians, Team 6300, at the NY Tech Valley Robot Rumble in Ballston Spa, NY. Photo by Jacob Slagel ’26.
The pace stood out. “The moment we would get done with a match, we were turning around and getting right back into one,” Tracy-Deuss said. “Stuff was breaking, and we were running back and forth between the pit and the arena, fixing things. There was just so much going on that I wasn’t expecting.”
Team 6300 finished fourth overall in a field of 16 teams, a strong result for a first outing. “All the other teams were really nice to play with. It was competitive and fun,” Tracy-Deuss said.
The trip also helped the group dynamic. “Yeah, I had a great time,” he said. “The car rides were really fun. We went out for dinner, and the hotel was nice. The competition was a blast.”
When asked if he would recommend robotics to other students, Tracy-Deuss did not hesitate. “If you are interested in high-energy competitive activities, and if you are into tech, engineering, and robotics, then that is the place for you. You learn skills and have experiences you do not get in other areas or in other sports.”
