The Brother Rice High School Robotics Team proudly represented the school on the global stage at the 2025 MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) ROV World Championship, held June 19–21 at NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan. Nearly 100 high school and college teams from across the globe competed across three divisions, with approximately 40 teams traveling from outside the U.S.
After finishing 2nd at the Midwest Regional in May, Brother Rice earned their spot among the world’s best. At Worlds, they competed in the RANGER division, finishing 19th out of 45 teams. Despite facing an extraordinary series of technical challenges, the team’s grit and determination shined throughout the competition.
The boys produced an outstanding poster, strong engineering documentation, and even placed 6th in their presentation category. However, pool performance proved difficult. After spending six straight hours repairing their ROV and profiling float following their first run, the team encountered an entirely new set of problems in their final run, ultimately placing them in the middle of the pack for pool missions.
One of the true highlights was the team’s custom-made water pressure sensor, which quickly became the talk of the competition. This innovative component showcased the incredible talent and technical creativity of Brother Rice Robotics, earning admiration from teams and judges alike.
The team’s success was powered by exceptional leadership from seniors Oscar Roa and Alex Kmak, who guided the team with poise and skill. Juniors Max Griffin, Dom Lanuti, Vince Walker, and Nate Sears also made key contributions, gaining invaluable experience that will position them as future leaders.
“I am so proud of the ingenuity, creativity, and perseverance these boys showed all year,” said Mr. Derek Van Dyke, Robotics Team Coach. “This was the best ROV BR has ever made, but it was also the most issue-plagued in our history. The boys never got down and just kept stepping up to tackle each issue. The custom pressure sensor truly showcased their engineering talent. Seniors Oscar Roa and Alex Kmak were outstanding leaders, and our juniors stepped up in a big way. We’re already looking forward to next year and a top 5 finish!”
The experience proved invaluable, as the team learned how to overcome setbacks, solve complex problems under pressure, and collaborate with peers from around the world. This year’s challenges have only strengthened their resolve and equipped them with the knowledge and determination to return even stronger at the 2026 MATE ROV World Championship in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
