Upper St. Clair High School’s robotics team, Terabridges 18603, made school history at the 2026 FIRST Tech Challenge Western Edge Premier Event by earning its first-ever championship victory. In addition to winning the Championship, Terabridges was also honored with the 1st Place Connect Award in our division, recognizing the team’s efforts to expand access to STEM opportunities across Western Pennsylvania.
The Western Edge Premier Event brought together teams from around the world, with competitors traveling from countries including South Korea, Romania, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Canada, Israel, Brazil, India, Mexico and China. The opportunity to collaborate and compete with such a diverse group of students showcased the global impact of FIRST and the friendships that robotics can create.
On the competition field, our championship title was the result of thousands of hours spent designing, building, programming, and constantly improving our robot throughout the season. During alliance selection, we were honored to join Team 33339 PHOBOS from Kazakhstan, whose outstanding leadership earned them the role of alliance captain. Together, our alliance captured the Robot Game Championship, and PHOBOS was also recognized with the event’s Inspire Award, the highest honor presented at the competition, celebrating the team that best represents the values of FIRST and serves as a model for others to follow.
Winning both the Connect Award and the Championship reflects what Terabridges strives to achieve: using robotics not only to compete at the highest level, but also to create opportunities, strengthen communities, and inspire future generations of innovators.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors, mentors, families, and community partners. Your generosity and encouragement allow us to pursue opportunities like Western Edge, expand STEM access throughout our region, and continue growing as a team. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping make achievements like these possible.
Want to see what an FTC Match looks like? Watch our student narrated finals match from Western Edge Below!
