History was made at inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition NorCal State Championship, held April 9–12, 2026, at the Cow Palace Arena & Event Center in San Francisco. It brought together 60 of Northern California’s top high school robotics teams and 1,200+ students for four extraordinary days of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition, community, and celebration.
These teams earned their spot advancing through the inaugural FIRST California District season to compete at the highest level of FRC competition in Northern California. The energy inside the Cow Palace was electric from the moment the doors opened, and the competition did not disappoint.
A Record-Breaking Weekend
The NorCal State Championship will be remembered for one match in particular that stopped everyone in their tracks: a world high score of 869 points and a world high losing score of 707 points set in the same match. A jaw-dropping moment that showcased just how elite the level of competition had become, and one that had the entire arena on its feet.
Inspiring Voices from Industry
The opening ceremonies brought together some of the most inspiring voices in STEM and technology:
- Debajit Ghosh, Distinguished Software Engineer, Platforms & Devices, Google
- Greg Corrado, Distinguished Scientist, Research, Technology and Society, Google
- Bryan Gerofsky, K-12 Program Manager, Hardware Engineering, Apple
- Empowerly
Beyond the Field: A Championship Week Full of Impact
What set this inaugural championship apart was the rich programming that surrounded the competition, turning the event into a true STEM community experience:
- STEM for Everyone Panel: Organized by a consortium of all-girl NorCal FRC teams, this special panel brought together representatives from Apple, PG&E, and NASA, alongside two student voices, for a powerful conversation about access, inclusion, and opportunity in STEM. A standout moment of the entire weekend.
- Mentor Appreciation Lunch: More than 100 mentors gathered for a dedicated lunch. A well-deserved celebration of the adults who give their time, expertise, and hearts to make FIRST possible for students across Northern California.
- School Field Trips: Approximately 300 students from local schools attended as part of organized field trips, many experiencing a FIRST event for the very first time. A powerful glimpse of the future of the program.
- FLL Explore Festival: Young innovators from FIRST LEGO League Explore had their moment in the spotlight, bringing the full FIRST family together under one roof.
- FLL Challenge & FTC Demos: Attendees got a front-row look at the breadth of FIRST programs in action, with demonstrations from FIRST LEGO League Challenge and FIRST Tech Challenge teams inspiring the next wave of participants.
Awards
- Impact Award Winners: Team 1678, Citrus Circuits; Team 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains
- Winning Alliance: Team 254, Cheesy Poofs; Team 1323, Madtown Robotics; Team 6238, Popcorn Penguins
- Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Clarina M with The Janksters Team 1967, Reet B with Aragon Robotics Team 840, Riya M with Eaglestrike Team 114, Ryan L with Popcorn Penguins Team 6238
- Engineering Inspiration: Team 1868, The Space Cookies
- Full Awards List: 2026 Awards
From the record-breaking matches to the inspiring panels and packed pit areas, the inaugural NorCal State Championship proved that California’s robotics community is ready to set the standard for the rest of the country. A heartfelt thank you to every team, mentor, volunteer, sponsor, and community partner who helped make this first-ever championship an unforgettable one.
The future of STEM in Northern California has never looked brighter.
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