Team 4174, Atomic Theory, dominated the qualification rounds, finishing ranked 2nd overall. Their performance included a rare season achievement: setting a new state record in New York, encompassing all three competitive regions: NYC, Long Island, and Excelsior (upstate). As captain of the 2nd alliance, they strategically selected team 11453 as their partner, and together the alliance advanced to the finals before ultimately placing as runners-up. Beyond their competitive success, the team earned the Design Award, with judges particularly impressed by their seamless, single-module chassis design, which achieved perfect component integration. 

Team 11453, Uncertainty Principle, also had a stellar outing, finishing 4th in the qualification rounds before joining forces with 4174 in the playoffs. The team distinguished itself off the field as well, earning the Connect Award for its exceptional outreach efforts. Judges highlighted the team’s connections with innovation directors at international firms, their efforts to spread STEM enthusiasm among underresourced youth abroad, and their mentorship of new members at Dalton, demonstrating that robotics extends far beyond the competition field. 

As a result of their achievements on and off the playing field, teams 4174 and 11453 earned a high number of advancement points and have qualified for the Super Qualifier in March, where they will be joined by team 9372, Standard Model, who advanced earlier in the month. With these results, four of Dalton’s teams have now secured advancement to the next tier of competition. 

The excitement continues as team 17126, Natural Selection, will have its opportunity to qualify in the coming weeks.