by Ava '27 and Khloe '27
The Janksters kicked off the new school year with an incredible start at their first off-season competition! From October 4-5, the team attended CalGames 2025, hosted by Woodside High School. Throughout the weekend they tackled everything from hasty pit fixes and strategic planning to scouting and more, proving that their hard work and persistence pay off in every challenge.
Day one began with loading in equipment, setting up the pits, and carefully preparing their robot, Lupe. Students ran system checks, troubleshooted functions, and made quick adjustments to ensure Lupe was in top shape. During the competition, every member played a key role in the team’s performance. Scouters gathered vital data to guide the drive team’s strategy, while business members actively documented and kept social media updated. The hardworking pit crew worked diligently to make necessary repairs between matches, ensuring Lupe operated at her best. Team members also engaged with judges and connected with other teams in the pits, proudly highlighting Lupe’s design, the team’s culture, and their outreach initiatives.
Outside of match play, Jankster volunteers helped reset the field, emceed matches, and supported event operations. To cheer them on, the team was even joined by Notre Dame staff, Sister Gillian and Mr. Bracco! Thank you to the parents and staff who graciously helped with logistics and meals to keep everyone energized!
On day two, once the previous day’s jitters were smoothed out, the Janksters’ performance truly leveled up. The team advanced into the elimination rounds and were invited to join the Sixth-seed Alliance with partners: Team 6036, Peninsula Robotics from a student-run organization in Palo Alto, and Team 6962, Antares from Khan Lab School in Mountain View! The Alliance collaborated seamlessly and adapted their strategy, with the Janksters playing a hybrid defense-offense role depending on the stakes of the game. While working through kinks to maximize effort and efficiency, the Janksters' Alliance battled through the Double Eliminations bracket; starting with a loss in Match 1 from broken partner robots, and pushing through a gauntlet of “last chance” matches. With renewed determination, they went on from the lower bracket to win against Alliances Seven, Four, and Three (the latter having knocked the Janksters down into the lower bracket initially) showcasing their teamwork and skill. The Janksters had an impressive run, going 3-2 in the Double Eliminations bracket overall, advancing to the semifinals and ultimately finishing with their Alliance in 3rd place. Even through the tougher moments, the Janksters maintained high spirits and cheered throughout the entirety of the competition.
This year’s CalGames was especially meaningful as many rookies attended their first-ever competition, tried out new roles, and had so much fun while learning and experiencing a new aspect in the world of robotics. This was such an amazing opportunity for the team to refine their teamwork, focus on improvements, rebuild confidence on the field, and welcome their new members. This marked Lupe’s final competition, finishing 2025 with 60 official matches, the most a Janksters robot has ever driven in 20 years! They are back in the groove, looking forward to competing at Capital City Classic 2025, and can’t wait to see what this exciting upcoming season has in store!
Photo credit: Robotics Business Committee
