A team of School of Computing students and members of the UNL VEX U Robotics Club competed in the VEX Robotics World Championship April 25-27 at the America's Center in St. Louis. The team placed in fifth in their division at the event.
The VEX Robotics World Championship brings together the top VEX IQ Robotics Competition, VEX V5 Robotics Competition, and VEX U Robotics Competition teams from around the globe to celebrate their accomplishments and participate in the 2025-2026 games to be crowned champions.
The team, titled SKERS, included student members Drew DeBauche, Bryce Closman, Amber Shefl, Anna Hadan, Ryan Bussom, Nguyen Phan, Erika McCarthy, Alieka Matzner, Aidan Linquist, Tony D’Agosto, Alex Roeser, Gibson Ebaugh, Julian Auctung, Nikhil Ekbote, Ian Crawford, Brionna Lowe, Finn Killeen, Leo Scaletty, Craig Whitney, Austin Schmitt, Hank Mcgill, and Matthew Leholm.
During this year’s competition, teams participated in a game called “Push Back,” in which four teams form two alliances and control four robots on a 12-by-12-foot field with four goal zones. The red and blue alliances score points by getting the robots to place blocks into the goal zones in various ways and park in specific zones at the end of the match. The game begins with a brief autonomous period, in which robots operate on pre-programmed commands, then changes to a live driver-operated competition.
“The driver portion is super intense and very fast-paced,” DeBauche said. “There are a lot of ups and downs during the match.”
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln held its own VEX Robotics competition for high schoolers this past January, but DeBauche noted that the collegiate competition is much different.
“The university version is much more advanced than the high school competition because teams are allowed to build many custom parts, including custom aluminum and 3D printing, instead of only using standard VEX pieces,” DeBauche said. “In VEX U, there's a longer autonomous period, so programming and coordination are a major part of the competition, and it also sets the tone for the rest of the match.”
The team’s trip was funded by the College of Engineering and Engineering Student Advisory Board. Members of the team expressed their appreciation to the college for the experience.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support and for the opportunity to represent the University of Nebraska on the world stage.”
Learn more about the UNL VEX U Robotics Club here.
by Victoria Grdina
May 13, 2026
The UNL VEX U Robotics Team.
Photo Courtesy of the UNL VEX U Robotics Club.
