April 27, 2026
We are incredibly proud of the Marlborough High School Robotics Team X^2, consisting of seniors Atul Modur, Anderson Lopez Castillo, Edgar Xante Gomez, junior Maggie Morrissey and coach Kyle Mager. They competed in the VEX Robotics World Championships held from April 20-24 in St. Louis, MO. This season, over 25,000 teams participated in 3,300 tournaments across more than 50 countries, leading up to this event, with only the top 860 teams qualifying to compete at the World Championships.
Team X^2 entered the competition as significant underdogs, operating on a shoestring budget. They faced off against many private schools and organizations that had dozens of corporate sponsors, six-figure budgets and paid coaching staff.
Throughout the first three days of qualification matches, they held their ground and overcame numerous challenges, achieving an impressive 8-5-1 record and earning additional points for their autonomous wins. As a result, they secured a spot in the single-elimination round on the final day, placing in the top 32 teams of their division.
Ranked 20th, they selected an alliance partner from Mexico, another underdog team, with whom they had developed a bond during the previous matches and through previous online interactions. Together, they entered the competition as the 14th seed, facing the 3rd seed, a team from China and their alliance partner from Pennsylvania. In a thrilling match marked by outstanding teamwork and last-second heroics, they achieved a remarkable upset, advancing past this powerhouse alliance.
Their journey continued into the quarterfinals, where their Cinderella story came to a close in a very close match against two teams from California.
There is so much pride to take in for these students and their coach. This experience was truly world-class, providing them with invaluable confidence and lessons in technical skills, teamwork and culture that will serve them well in all their future endeavors. Go Panthers!
Team X^2 entered the competition as significant underdogs, operating on a shoestring budget. They faced off against many private schools and organizations that had dozens of corporate sponsors, six-figure budgets and paid coaching staff.
Throughout the first three days of qualification matches, they held their ground and overcame numerous challenges, achieving an impressive 8-5-1 record and earning additional points for their autonomous wins. As a result, they secured a spot in the single-elimination round on the final day, placing in the top 32 teams of their division.
Ranked 20th, they selected an alliance partner from Mexico, another underdog team, with whom they had developed a bond during the previous matches and through previous online interactions. Together, they entered the competition as the 14th seed, facing the 3rd seed, a team from China and their alliance partner from Pennsylvania. In a thrilling match marked by outstanding teamwork and last-second heroics, they achieved a remarkable upset, advancing past this powerhouse alliance.
Their journey continued into the quarterfinals, where their Cinderella story came to a close in a very close match against two teams from California.
There is so much pride to take in for these students and their coach. This experience was truly world-class, providing them with invaluable confidence and lessons in technical skills, teamwork and culture that will serve them well in all their future endeavors. Go Panthers!