The Janksters Place Third at Capital City Classic
By Ava ‘27 and Sana ‘27
This past weekend, from October 25 to October 27, the Janksters competed at Capital City Classic in Elk Grove at Pleasant Grove High School, placing third overall with their alliance after an impressive run to the semifinals. Beyond competing, members gained hands-on experience in teamwork, resilience, and technical problem-solving, resulting in a rewarding event for new and returning Janksters alike.
The Janksters arrived on Friday evening, unloading equipment, setting up their pit area, and signing up for practice field slots to fine-tune their robot before Saturday’s matches. Members also attended workshops and panels covering topics ranging from robot design to optimized team structures to the FIRST Impact Award.. Notably, Heather Buckner and Teagan Hensley ‘26 led a diversity in STEM workshop in partnership with team Citrus Circuits (1678), highlighting the importance of inclusivity and openness within the FIRST robotics community. The team also co-hosted an LGBTQ+ ice cream social with Citrus Circuits, bringing together diverse voices and promoting connection across teams.
Saturday was packed with activities, as the drive team competed in elimination matches while the scouting team meticulously collected data. Scouting leads dedicatedly organized qualitative and quantitative data on robots throughout the competition, working to synthesize this data into actionable strategies, which played a key role in the team’s success. Meanwhile, the pit crew collaborated under fast-paced conditions to keep the robot running through each match, making quick adjustments and repairs where needed.
After a day of hard work, the entire team gathered Saturday evening to reflect on their day, discussing both inspiring moments and areas for improvement. Following this, scouting leads and drive team members stayed late and held a picklist meeting to analyze their data and prepare for alliance selections.
On Sunday, the Janksters were selected to join the second-seed alliance with alliance captain Presentation Invasion (2135) and partners Antares (6962) and Tech Support (7419), ultimately advancing to the semifinals and securing an overall third-place finish. This competition was marked by strong contributions from underclassmen, with many stepping up to lead scouting, drive team, pit crew, and business roles. “Seeing so many of our younger members take charge this weekend was incredibly inspiring,” said team captain Samanya Girish ‘25. “Their enthusiasm and commitment helped push us to this finish.”
The Janksters received strong support from the Notre Dame community this weekend with Head of School Ms. Mathis and Mr. Bracco coming to cheer them on. The team also got the chance to reconnect with Jankster alumni Olivia Monroy ‘24, Max Haubrich ‘24, and Anjani Gadkari ‘22. The Janksters are excited to carry what they’ve learned to their next competition, Madtown Throwdown, which will take place in approximately two weeks in Madera, California.
