Middle School Students Compete at VEX Robotics World Championship

Team X-Factor—comprised of Cara Duwel (Durham, NH),  Eli Gleason-Papoosha (Wolfeboro, NH), Teddy McNaughton (Kittery Point, ME), Maggie Mocny (Stratham, NH), Eben Parker (Kittery Point, ME), and Theo Sullivan (Dover, NH)—earned their invitation to the international competition through months of rigorous preparation and performance throughout the season. Accompanied by faculty members Krysta Ibsen and Emily Bearse, as well as many of their parents, the students showcased the culmination of their hard work, technical skill, and team spirit.

Throughout the three-day competition, the Berwick team competed in three key categories: teamwork challenge, driver-controlled skills, and autonomous coding. In the teamwork challenge, students were randomly paired with international teams and required to strategize and compete in real time—demonstrating communication, adaptability, and problem-solving under pressure. The driver-controlled and autonomous challenges tested their engineering design and programming skills, as they guided their custom-built robot through precision-based tasks.

“Being at the VEX Worlds competition for the first time, I was surprised and happy to see that there were so many cultures expressed through decorations, designs, and booths,” said eighth grader Maggie Mocny. “The hardest part of the competition for me was managing my time; I thought that our team would have time to practice while we were there, but unsurprisingly, there were long lines for the practice fields. Our team adapted well though by communicating strategies with our randomized teammates in the times we weren't practicing.”

Participation in VEX Robotics supports a wide array of essential skills, from mechanical engineering and coding to project management and collaboration. Berwick’s program emphasizes a student-led approach, where students design, build, test, and iterate their robots through hands-on trial and error. This fosters not only technical understanding but also resilience and a growth mindset.

“Our students did far more than just compete—they problem-solved, collaborated with peers from around the world, and learned from every success and setback,” said Ibsen. “They represented Berwick with integrity, curiosity, and a true team spirit.”

Berwick’s X-Factor team returned home with new knowledge, deeper friendships, and inspiration to continue innovating. Their performance on the world stage is a testament to the strength of student-centered STEM learning and the transformative impact of real-world challenges.

For media inquiries, interviews, or photo requests, please contact Director of Communications Jamie Reynolds at (207) 384-6306 or communications@berwickacademy.org.