The MHS MADAWGS Robotics Team is back in action—and they’re already making a name for themselves! This past weekend, the team traveled to Glen Allen, VA, to compete in their first FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in years. By the end of the event, the MADAWGS had earned the Rising All-Star Award, a prestigious honor recognizing teams that have persisted through challenges, despite the difficulties of being young. This could be the result of being a new team, or a team with recent turnover in membership.
For the MADAWGS, this award is more than just a trophy—it’s the beginning of a comeback story.
From Powerhouse to Pause
Founded in 2010, the MADAWGS quickly became a force to be reckoned with in FRC. Year after year, they built impressive robots and competed at the highest level. But in 2020, everything changed.
As schools shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MADAWGS were forced to step away from competition. Former coach Mark Toole remembers just how devastating that moment was for the team.
"We’d built the best robot we’d ever had,” he recalled. The team felt confident that the championship was within their grasp.
With schools focused on virtual learning, the MADAWGS program went dormant. But now, after years away from competition, a new generation of MADAWGS is bringing the program back to life!
The Comeback Begins
This year’s team is made up of both new and experienced robotics students, many of whom got their start in MCPS’ award-winning elementary and middle school robotics programs. Their passion for coding, engineering, and teamwork has fueled the return of FRC at MHS.
And what a return it’s been! The judges at the Glen Allen competition had high praise for the MADAWGS when presenting them with the Rising All-Star Award:
“Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks, especially after a good night's rest. This team came back from a few years away energized and ready to go! These are now new dogs, barking their way to the top of the most impactful teams.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. The MADAWGS are officially back, and this is just the beginning.