Masuk Free Press

Masuk Robotics home competition took place on December 13th, 2025, at Masuk High School. Schools from all around Connecticut were competing to win the competition, which is the qualifying event for VEX V5. The event was held from 9:00 in the morning to 5:15 in the evening. There are a total of 76 teams, and between 300 and 400 students participating.

Before the competition officially started at nine in the morning, breakfast concessions were for sale for hungry patrons to purchase when entering the school. 

At 8:50, the referees announced the rules for today’s competition. For the first time, Masuk Robotics had three fields on the auditorium stage. The three fields are the design, engineering, and technology fields. 144 matches would be attempted to be completed, per the referees. Each team would be paired with another team, giving the red alliance and the blue alliance. 

“We want a record that is at least 4 and 2, and to be able to develop better strategies throughout the competition.” Said Masuk sophomore Peyton Smith, who is on Masuk team 4478W.

The first match promptly took place at 9:32, with 13085B Wicked Jack and 9909V Valor on the red alliance, and 877S Skill Issue, and 1695D Hand Tigers D “Pro-Bot” on the blue alliance. The red alliance won the first match, 62-24. 

Before each main match is an autonomous match, which gives the winning team a 10 point bonus. The autonomous match lasts 15 seconds, and the robot operates without driver control, while the main matches last one minute and 45 seconds, and the robot is being driven by a human.

The goal of the game is to gain control over the upper and lower goals. The goals are taken control by placing colored balls in the goal, which can also be knocked out by the opposing alliance. There are a total of four control zones to score in. In the last 20 seconds, when the time flashes yellow, a robot parked without knocking any balls out of the parking spot scores an additional bonus. 

“Skills are the results of a bots’ capabilities in an arena by themselves.” Said Masuk sophomore Grant Knecht. Skills are part of a separate arena where the robot can score any colored ball to gain points, and are used to score awards later in the competition. 

Masuks first match was in match number 11. There are 11 teams for Masuk at the high school level, which are signaled by numbers 4478. Masuk team 4478J, teamed with 21860C from New Fairfield High School on the red alliance, lost 3-135, not scoring the autonomous bonus or any parked robots. The blue alliance scored both parking bonuses and the autonomous bonus.

Masuks pits were located in the cafeteria annex, in the back of the cafeteria. “The pits are where you work on robots, do code, and we also have practice fields.” Said Masuk sophomore Will Steese, who is on team 4478P. The pits are also where Skills are run

In the 25th match, Masuk team 4478B, teamed with team 32610B, from Avon, Connecticut on the red alliance, defeated 1697A from West Hartford, teamed with 47743C from Seymour. The score for the match was 112-3, red alliance. The red alliance scored both the autonomous bonus and parked one robot. 

“Our goal is that our last three matches are going to be pretty difficult, our goal is to go four and two, maybe we can get a chance to get in a line selection so we can work through eliminations.” Said Masuk Junior Leon van Wyk, who is on team 4478W. 

Smith shared the Skills scores for Masuks teams as of roughly midday, “team 4478S in in 10th, 4478T is in 12th, 4478W is in 16th, 4478B is in 17th, 4478V is in 23rd, 4478P is in 26th, and 4478J is in 28th.” Smith added that not all teams have their Skills scores assessed yet.

Food was being sold in the cafeteria for patrons and teams, as well as a raffle and Masuk Robotics merchandise. 

Many more matches continued throughout the day. The matches flow into each other, with only short downtimes in between each match to show the scores. Christmas songs are played in the background of the matches.

Finally, team 9909V teamed with 9909M won the competition,  defeating 5150D, teamed with 119X. Masuk’s team 4478B won the design award for the day, and 4478N won the Think Award. A total of six Masuk teams advanced to the next competition.