The FIRST LEGO League Mechanical Megalodons wrapped up an impressive inaugural season during the 2025–2026 “Unearthed” challenge, demonstrating perseverance, innovation, and teamwork at every stage of competition.
Led by coaches Mrs. DuBois and Mr. Kevin Hoffman, the rookie team—Janice Caliri, Allison Choi, James Glynn, Hayley Hicks, Max Hoffman, Logan Intraboona, Nicholas Lindsay, Hunter Samoitis, Noah Stebbing, and Pars Sirman—embraced the challenge from day one. Students devoted countless hours to robot design, programming, and collaboration while fully embodying the FIRST Core Values, including Gracious Professionalism.
Throughout the season, the Mechanical Megalodons tackled real‑world challenges with creativity and determination. Their innovative project, “Wristless,” addressed a wall‑related problem and showcased the team’s engineering mindset and problem‑solving skills, earning praise from judges for both originality and thoughtful design.
The team’s journey took them from Qualifying competitions to Regional events, culminating in a standout appearance at the Florida State Tournament in St. Petersburg, where they competed alongside 55 of the top teams in the state. Their progression through each level of competition highlighted not only technical growth but also resilience and confidence.
While trophies were not the sole focus, team members walked away with invaluable skills—refining strategy, speed, precision, and a deeper understanding of what it means to function as a cohesive team.
As the season concludes, one thing is clear: the future is bright for the Mechanical Megalodons. Their rookie year laid a strong foundation, proving that with teamwork, creativity, and perseverance, even first‑year teams can make a powerful impact.