April 3, 2025 – Get ready for an electrifying weekend of high-tech competition as the Central Valley Robotics Regional gears up to bring the excitement of STEM innovation to the Fresno Fairgrounds. From April 4 to 6, 2025, forty-two high school robotics teams will go head-to-head in a battle of skill, strategy, and engineering excellence, all vying for a coveted spot at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas.
The action truly heats up on Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, when teams take the field between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Among the competitors are seven local teams from Clovis, Fresno, Visalia, and Sanger, alongside powerhouse teams like MadTown Robotics from Madera and The Buchanan Bird Brains from Clovis, both of which clinched World Championship berths last year. Adding to the international flair, teams from Arizona, Hawaii, Taiwan, and Turkey will also be competing, making this event a truly global showcase of talent.
This year’s challenge, “REEFSCAPE” Presented By Haas, will push competitors to their limits. Since January 4, 2025, students have been designing, fabricating, wiring, and programming 150-pound custom-built robots capable of performing complex tasks in a simulated underwater ecosystem. During each match, alliances of three robots will battle to strategically place “coral” PVC pipe structures onto a “reef,” manipulate large “algae” balls, and ultimately climb onto metal “cages” for bonus points. With only two minutes and thirty seconds per match, every second counts in this high-intensity competition. The first 15 seconds of each match will be autonomous, where robots operate on pre-programmed instructions before human drivers take control for the remainder of the round.
For thirteen years, the Central Valley Regional has been at the forefront of fostering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in the community. This year, there will be thirteen regional competitions across California, showcasing the dedication and ingenuity of over 3,400 teams worldwide. The Central Valley Regional is proud to be one of these events, providing local students with an opportunity to display their hard work and compete at the highest levels.
The competition format consists of qualification matches leading into high-stakes playoff rounds on Sunday, April 6, after 1 p.m. Opening ceremonies will take place each morning at 8:30 a.m., setting the stage for a full day of thrilling matches.
The event is free and open to the public, offering a fantastic opportunity for families, educators, and tech enthusiasts to witness the future of innovation in action. Whether you are a longtime robotics fan or new to the scene, this competition is a must-see spectacle of teamwork, ingenuity, and raw excitement.
The event will take place at the Fresno Fairgrounds in the Armory Building from April 4 to 6, 2025, with official matches scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 5 and 6. More information is available at cafirst.org/frc/centralvalley.