Smith-Cotton Robotics Teams Dominate KC Regional

Top two squads from Sedalia school district advance to FIRST World Championships

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:01pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a high school robotics competition, with overlapping planes of red, blue, and yellow shapes representing the dynamic action and competition.The intense rivalry between two high school robotics teams is captured in a dynamic, cubist-inspired illustration.Houston Today

The robotics teams from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri dominated the Greater Kansas City Regional competition, with the school's two squads - Team SCREAM and Team SCREAM Jr. - facing off in the finals. Team SCREAM, consisting of juniors and seniors, won the overall competition after pairing with the host Broncobots and a team from Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Team SCREAM Jr., made up of younger students, battled back through the one-loss bracket to reach the final match.

Why it matters

The success of the Smith-Cotton robotics program highlights the growing popularity and competitiveness of FIRST Robotics competitions, which provide hands-on experience for students in engineering, programming, and teamwork. The rivalry between the two Smith-Cotton teams also demonstrates the depth of talent within the school district's robotics efforts.

The details

In the qualifying matches, Team SCREAM ranked second while Team SCREAM Jr. was fifth. Team SCREAM then paired with the host Broncobots and the robotics team from Sapulpa, Oklahoma to win all four of their playoff contests, including a second-round matchup against Team SCREAM Jr.'s alliance. Team SCREAM Jr. battled back through the one-loss bracket with the help of teams from Dunlap, Illinois and Manhattan, Kansas to reach the final round.

  • The Greater Kansas City Regional competition was held on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Both Smith-Cotton teams have qualified for the FIRST World Championships later this month in Houston, Texas.

The players

Team SCREAM

The Smith-Cotton High School robotics team consisting of juniors and seniors.

Team SCREAM Jr.

The Smith-Cotton High School robotics team consisting of younger students.

Broncobots

The robotics team from the host school, Lee's Summit North High School.

Sapulpa

The robotics team from Sapulpa, Oklahoma that partnered with Team SCREAM.

Dunlap

The robotics team from Dunlap, Illinois that partnered with Team SCREAM Jr.

Manhattan

The robotics team from Manhattan, Kansas that partnered with Team SCREAM Jr.

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What they’re saying

“We're really proud of how both our teams performed and represented Smith-Cotton so well at the regional competition.”

— Michael Wright, Head Coach, Smith-Cotton Robotics

What’s next

Both Smith-Cotton teams will compete at the FIRST World Championships in Houston, Texas later this month.

The takeaway

The success of the Smith-Cotton robotics program, with its two top-performing teams facing off in the regional finals, demonstrates the depth of talent and dedication within the school district's STEM education efforts. The rivalry between the two squads also highlights the growing competitiveness of FIRST Robotics competitions nationwide.