All-Girl Middle School Robotics Team Makes History in U.S. Open Competition

Even before the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Competition in Council Bluffs, Iowa, last week, a robotics team from Downtown School had already made history. Not only are the Downtown Dragons the first team from the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) to be invited to the worldwide competition, but they’re also breaking barriers as an all-girls team. Their journey has taken them to new heights, placing them in the top 20 in their division and top 115 in the skills division.

“As their principal, I’m super proud of them,” said Downtown’s Principal Lynn McEntire.

With their robot, affectionately named Tulip 2.0, the team, composed of six eighth-grade girls, came together in seamless collaboration, putting their problem-solving skills to the test in a series of games and challenges meant to spark creativity and innovation. Two teams are paired together in an alliance and go head-to-head against another alliance. The teams score points using their robots to place a set of rings on stakes, place mobile goals, and climb at the end of the match. There is a driver-controlled period, where players directly control the robot’s movements, and an autonomous period, where players program the robot to complete tasks independently. 

Teams from all over the world compete in the CREATE U.S. Open Competition.

“Our robot is a conveyor intake bot,” team member Hollie Rossiter explained. “We originally had a claw bot, but it was slow. We knew that we needed to build a better robot. A conveyor bot was our best choice because we’d seen them before, and we were able to work really fast.” 

Even before the national competition, the Dragons accomplished impressive feats. After winning the Design Award at the Wasco Winter Classic in December, they automatically qualified for the California State Robotics competition at CSUB, where they reached the quarterfinals. Along the way, they earned a Judge’s Award for their outstanding community impact — a testament to their drive and dedication both on and off the field. 

“We have a fabulous, super strong program, and under the direction of their coach, it’s a privilege for these kiddos to be on these teams,” McEntire said.

The path to success wasn’t always easy, and the group’s growth stemmed from their ability to solve complex problems and work as a team. According to Coach Brenda Mayer, who had mentored robotics teams for over a decade, the girls had to collaborate on everything from programming the bot to creating a strategy to building new parts with 3D printers.

“We’ve had really brilliant teams that don’t do well because they can’t cooperate,” Mayer explained. “This team, they have been rock solid. They’ve really learned to flow and intertwine their work together.” 

Each member plays a vital role, in addition to pitching in wherever they’re needed. Claire Armstrong was responsible for keeping meticulous notes and documenting the design process in a detailed notebook. That book is what earned the team their previous design award. 

“The book basically documents everything that my team does,” Armstrong said. “By having all these notes, it helps us prepare the robot. If we find something is a recurrent problem, we try to find a solution.”

As the Dragons traveled to Iowa, they weren’t just excited about the competition — they were looking forward to meeting students from other countries and sharing their experiences. For some, it was their first time flying. 

“They’re super excited to get to travel,” McEntire said. “And to be recognized for all their hard work, it’s a good feeling for them.”

Mayer says this whole competition would not be possible without the school, district, and entire community coming together to support them. 

“I’m just thankful that the parents have supported us. Our boosters support us. They give us extra funds,” Mayer said. “I’m so thankful that we have such a big backing behind us that allows us to grow and flourish.”

While the Dragons didn’t win the competition, their achievements spoke volumes. They placed within the top 20 and demonstrated their ingenuity, perseverance, and teamwork. Not only did they represent their school, they were part of something much bigger: a movement to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.

“I’m definitely proud of what my team has done and being able to help,” Armstrong said. “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished.”