Posted
January 09, 2025
Last weekend, the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland was electric as high school students from across the region gathered for the highly anticipated reveal of this season’s FIRST Robotics Competition challenge. Wild guesses flew, secret strategies formed, and clusters of teenage engineers-in-the-making whispered in hushed calculations; for many, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for all year.
The annual challenge, a series of objectives for robots to rack up as many points as possible, is top secret until the season’s official kickoff. Every year, teams are thrown into uncharted territory, forced to scrap old ideas and dream up brand-new designs. A crew of Edsmen repped St. Edward’s Team #2172 at the unveiling, while their teammates—including students from Magnificat High School and St. Joseph Academy—eagerly awaited their return for a full-day brainstorming marathon back on campus.
“This year’s challenge is called Reefscape. When I heard it was ocean-themed, I thought the robot might have to swim or something, but instead, we’re transporting and tossing 20-inch bouncy balls and stacking PVC pipes on a rack that looks like coral,” said Elijah Molseed ’26. “It’s going to be really fun to figure out."
For these students, the challenge isn’t just a competition—it’s the spark that fuels months of creativity and collaboration.
“The biggest thing students take away from Robotics is how to work as a team,” said Head Coach Colin Bocan ’20, who also serves as St. Edward’s Associate Director of Information Technology.
They have to collaborate with their own teammates, but since competition scores are a combination of three allied schools, they also have to learn how to work with teams from other schools. It’s all about figuring things out together.
St. Edward’s 20-member robotics team brings engineering principles to life, designing, building, and programming a custom robot to compete each year. The squad is split into four sub-teams, each with its own captain and specialty:
Mechanical: responsible for the design and building of the robot’s frame and components
Systems: responsible for installing all power, control, and pneumatic systems
Programming: responsible for coding all aspects of the robot’s movement (both autonomous and human operating modes)
Business: responsible for the team’s branding, merchandise, and publicity
In the fall, the team met just a few times a week to introduce newcomers to the program, figure out roles, secure sponsorships, and bond. But now that this year’s competition challenge is unveiled, it’s go time! The team has cranked up the intensity, putting in long hours five days a week, including Saturdays.
For Team Captain Luke Arra ’25, robotics has been a core part of his St. Edward experience. A Lorain native and St. Jude School graduate, Arra is in his fourth year with the team. He led the mechanical sub-team as a freshman and now oversees the entire operation.
“There’s something about designing and building these machines that feels impossible,” Arra said.
By the end of the season, we stand back and think, ‘Wow… we actually made this happen.’
Last year, the team snagged their first-ever regional win at a global competition—the robotics equivalent of a state championship! “Watching the team grow and come together was incredible,” Arra recalled.
Known as Team #2172 Steel Unit-E (as in unity), the team will hit Pittsburgh in March before returning to the Wolstein Center in April to defend their Buckeye Regional title. Last year’s champion robot, “Phoenix,” has officially retired after leading the most successful season in team history. But with a new challenge ahead, Team #2172 is ready to dive in and build something amazing once again.
Join the Team!
The robotics team welcomes students from St. Edward, St. Joseph Academy, and Magnificat High School. No prior experience is needed, and it’s not too late to join. Email Colin Bocan '20 to get involved.
St. Edward High School Robotics is grateful for the generous support of the following sponsors:
Learn more about mentorship and sponsorship opportunities.
