05/04/2026
SWLA Tech Pirates ā 2026 Season & World Championship Coaches Report
Wow! This team pushed past every expectation. Making it to the World Championship 3 times in 5 years is special. It comes from students who choose to show up, put in the work, and believe in what theyāre building.
Honestly, this was the best team and robot weāve ever had.
This season didnāt come easy. We built our robot in 15 days, and our first competition showed it. We had many problems, but no one hung their heads. They fixed what needed fixing and came back better. By our second event, they became finalists and secured their spot at Worlds.
After that, the students wanted a full redesign. They saw exactly what needed to improve. Thatās what you hope for as a mentor. With our current resources, it just wasnāt possible, so they made the harder choice: taking what they had and pushing it as far as they could.
They stayed late, came in early, and even traveled out of town to work at Denham Venomās build space just to keep improving. That level of commitment isnāt something you can teach.
Worlds definitely tested us. The record didnāt go our way, and we finished 58th in our division. We faced motor faults and mechanical failures, but not one student quit. After every match, they were back in the pit, tearing the robot apart and 3D printing parts. They refused to give up on each other.
To our sponsors, families, and supporters - thank you! None of this happens without you. Youāve given these students the chance to experience something bigger than themselves.
We know thereās more ahead. For 5 years, weāve built this program in limited spaces, without necessary tools, often relying on other teams to manufacture parts. Weāre grateful, but we know more is possible.
Even with those challenges, this team finished #3 in Louisiana, #367 in the United States, and #445 in the world. That says everything about who they are and what kind of students we are developing. Now imagine what they could do with the right resources.
Weāre heading into the offseason focused and motivated...hereās to the future for the SWLA Tech Pirates!
