THOMASVILLE- Thomas County Central High School’s Cyberstingers robotics teams are heading to the world stage. Both Cyberstingers Gold 6988 and Cyberstingers Blue 5979 have earned a spot at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championships in Houston, Texas, on April 15-19, following standout performances at the Georgia State Championship.

Cyberstingers Gold 6988 secured their championship berth by winning the Inspire Award, the highest honor awarded at an FTC competition. This award celebrates a team that truly embodies the spirit of FTC through strong performance, innovative design, teamwork, outreach, and a well-documented engineering journey. Gold’s outstanding season culminated in this recognition, demonstrating their commitment to excellence in every aspect of FTC.

Led by team captain Klayton Slusher, the Gold roster includes Lydia Glass, Brieley Weeks, Chasten Harrison, Landen McMullen, Seth Aguas, and Natalie Carlisle. Their teamwork, engineering prowess, and dedication to STEM education have set them apart as one of Georgia’s premier robotics teams.

Not to be outdone, Cyberstingers Blue 5979 also delivered a stellar performance at the Georgia State Championship, earning the Inspire Award 2nd place, which secured their spot at the FTC Championships. Additionally, Blue made an impressive playoff run, advancing to the semifinals before being eliminated in match 8 of 10. Their ability to both compete at a high level and receive recognition for their well-rounded excellence demonstrates the depth of talent in the Cyberstingers program.

Under the leadership of captain Manthan Patel, the Blue team consists of Jared Castillo, Rudra Patel, Alex Hankins, Donnie Vu, Justin Barnes, and Tyrone Everett. Their hard work and resilience have earned them a well-deserved chance to compete on the world stage in Houston.

Both teams are coached by the dedicated Brian Bellamy, who has guided them through rigorous training, technical challenges, and strategic problem solving to reach this milestone. His leadership has been instrumental in the teams’ success, helping them hone their skills in engineering, coding, and teamwork.

The Cyberstingers’ journey to Houston is a testament to their relentless drive and passion for robotics. As they prepare to take on the world’s best at the FIRST FTC Championships, they continue to inspire their peers, their community, and future generations of engineers and innovators.