RMA R0vers – Team #32789
The RMA R0vers (FTC Team #32789) represent River Mill Academy’s growing robotics program and a new era of STEM innovation on campus. Launched as a land-based sister program to the school’s long-running Underwater Robotics Club, the R0vers are a student-driven team focused on engineering, coding, teamwork, and competitive excellence.
The team builds with Studica robotics systems, integrates REV control hardware, and actively develops autonomous and tele-op code using Java in Visual Studio Code—mirroring the real-world software practices used in the FIRST Tech Challenge. The R0vers balance mechanical engineering, electrical systems, CAD, programming, and game-strategy development as they design a robot capable of competing in a fast-paced, problem-solving-heavy FTC environment.
This season, the R0vers have made significant strides—including successfully reprogramming their controller, field-testing the drive system, and working toward a fully functional competition robot. Students have also begun building a wiffle-ball shooter system, iterating on prototypes, testing materials, and exploring motor control and launcher geometry. Collaboration is core to the team’s culture: students work closely with adult mentors, including mechanical support from community partners like Mike, and technical guidance from the school’s Instructional Technology Facilitator.
The R0vers are committed to learning through challenges, practicing gracious professionalism, and representing River Mill Academy with creativity, hard work, and innovation. They actively prepare for scrimmages and qualifiers—from Chapel Hill to Greensboro—and are working toward their ultimate goal: earning a spot at the 2026 NC FTC State Championship at NC A&T University.
Whether building mechanisms, writing autonomous routines, troubleshooting electronics, or engaging with the STEM community, the RMA R0vers are driven, curious, and ready to grow. They embody what it means to imagine boldly, build fearlessly, and compete with heart.
Creating new Pathways
More than just code...
Students apply real world application of engineering and coding to cutting edge technology, this team gives hard working students the chance to trek through unexplored territory and give their skills a chance to shine through robotics.
Breaking limits and Setting Records
The building blocks to success...
Through hard work and consistent determination, our team has broken through every road block and shows no sign of stopping or slowing. We're here to break the norm and show the other teams what we're capable of.
Building up Close-kit Connections
Learning innovation together...
Our team has been given brilliant opportunity to meet and speak with masters in the field and also visit certain colleges and teams that have been in the game for far longer than we have, this gives us plenty of chances to grow from mentors and network with potential colleges.
Determined To Learn
Fostering an environment of mentorship and dedication. . .
Our team members are ready to soak up all the knowledge they can and take full advantage of this opportunity to learn and grow in their skills, and use this team to teach others as well. Our mentors, Mike Holt, a useful guide and leader in every aspect of our team drives our morale in every meeting. Our team and mentors environment drives our will to succeed as this program continues to move forward.
Southeast Guilford High School Qualifier
In our first season competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge 🤖, Team 32789 — RMA R0vers delivered a strong and competitive performance at the Southeast Guilford High School Qualifier (USNCGRQ2). The R0vers finished 7th overall in qualification rankings 🏅 with a 3–2 record, consistently demonstrating scoring capability and mechanical reliability throughout the day. As a rookie team, we posted multiple triple-digit alliance scores, including impressive wins of 143, 133, and 104 points 🔥, breaking the 100-point mark in 3 of 5 qualification matches 📊. Our 143-point performance ranked among the strongest scores of the event and showed that we could compete alongside experienced programs.
Following qualifications, the R0vers were selected as Alliance Captain for the #5 seeded alliance 🚀 — a significant achievement in our first year that reflected both our ranking and the confidence other teams had in our robot’s performance. In playoff competition, we won our opening match 145–94 💪, advancing through bracket play and competing hard against higher-seeded alliances. Throughout playoffs, our team demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and composure under pressure, continuing to compete with confidence and intensity.
While we did not earn a judged award this season, earning a Top-7 finish 🏆 and captaining a playoff alliance in our rookie year marks an important competitive milestone for our program. We built a robot with a functional autonomous sequence ⚙️, strong tele-op scoring potential ⚡, reliable driver control 🎮, and a high scoring ceiling — all foundational elements for long-term success. More importantly, we built a culture centered on teamwork, problem-solving, and competitive excellence 🤝.
Looking ahead to next season, the RMA R0vers are focused on growth. We plan to improve autonomous scoring reliability ⚙️, increase cycle speed and efficiency ⚡, expand intake capabilities 🧲, strengthen endgame consistency 🎯, enhance scouting strategy 📈, and place a greater emphasis on outreach and judged awards 🌎. Our rookie season proved one thing clearly: we belong in the arena — and next year, we aim to elevate from competitive to dominant 🚀.