Texas Hosts the First-Ever FIRST Tech Challenge Preview Event

When FIRST® Tech Challenge announced that they would be conducting a “Week 0” style event known as a Preview Event, it was already big news. These pre-season scrimmages are well-known in FIRST Robotics Competition, offering leaders the chance to test systems and prepare for the season ahead. But when FIRST in Texas was named the host site for the first-ever FTC Preview Event, the honor was surreal, and the Texas community rose to the occasion. 

The 2025–2026 DECODE™, presented by RTX season officially kicked off in North Texas at Marcus High School, marking a milestone moment not just for our state but for the entire FTC community. 

This special event wasn’t just an early scrimmage; it was also a collaborative training and testing opportunity for both FIRST Headquarters and the Texas community, while demonstrating what a high-quality tournament looks like. The Preview Event served as a live testing ground for new systems, volunteer roles, and inspection procedures, helping shape the competition experience for teams worldwide. 

“The event overall was fantastic. It went super well! I’m really proud of what we achieved. We hit our major goals, and we created a fun start of the season event for our volunteers and teams,” Emily DeMille, FIRST Tech Challenge Co-Leader stated. 

With more than 80 volunteer positions filled and 31 teams participating, the event buzzed with energy and creativity, especially with the Halloween theme, where teams and volunteers dressed up and decorated their pit areas. Over 16 dedicated volunteers traveled from across Texas to receive early exposure to role updates and best practices straight from HQ. 

Volunteers also participated in specialized training for Robot Inspectors and Judge Advisors, setting the tone for a smoother competition season across the state. 

Behind the scenes, new technology was put to the test: 

• The Nexus suite of tools was used for queuing and volunteer communication, a platform gaining traction in FRC that’s now being tailored for FTC. 
• The FTC Technology Group piloted an automated match video upload system that posts clips directly to the North Texas FTC YouTube Channel within minutes of matches ending giving teams a faster way to review, scout, and celebrate their performance. 

“Teams, coaches, and volunteers reported a great deal of satisfaction and appreciation,” shared by Patrick Michaud, FIRST Tech Challenge Co-Leader. “It took a lot of effort to pull off, but it did help to set a positive foundation for the upcoming season. We’re proud to have been the charter Preview Event for FIRST Tech Challenge.” 

Two standout teams captured the spotlight at this historic event showcasing the spirit, innovation, and teamwork that defines FTC. 

Winning Alliance Spotlight: ITKAN Solar – FTC Team 19564

How did it feel knowing your team was competing at the very first FTC Preview Event ever and winning? 

“First and foremost, competing at the first FTC event for the FIRST Age season was an honor! It definitely set a sense of motivation for us to excel because this event would set the stage and tempo for the rest of the season, kicking it off for the whole world. We really took that perspective and used it to motivate ourselves to improve our robot every day and make sure we were ready for the competition. Thankfully, all of the hard work paid off, and it felt great to take home the first W of the entire world! It showed us that with dedication and STEM drive, it can pay off on the main stage of FTC.” 

What was the overall experience for your team? 

“We were honored to compete in the very first FTC competition. The North Texas FIRST volunteer squad demonstrated strong organization and dedication, making the event run smoothly for us. As Muslims, we need to pray five times a day, and they graciously accommodated that — even during playoff matches, we were able to get our dedicated space before jumping back into the event. We also loved the scavenger hunts hosted by REV and the vendor booths from GoBilda and SWYFT. And of course, earning the Reach Award and Winning Alliance Captain title made all the hard work worth it!” 

What would you tell other teams gearing up for their first event? 

“Stay strong! No matter who wins the medals, FTC teaches collaboration, leadership, and engineering skills that should be cherished above all.” 

Any shoutouts? 

“Thank you so much to the FiT North Region with Mr. Cherryholmes and all the FTC volunteers who made the event possible. It couldn’t have been done without them!” 

What’s one thing you learned? 

“We learned how to make our team dynamics more efficient and effective. Every contribution matters, no matter how small — from charging batteries to cleaning the pit. Those efforts add up, and that’s what helped us stay calm and focused in competition.” 

— FTC Team 19564, ITKAN Solar

Finalist Alliance Spotlight: The Moment Makers – FTC Team 19502 

How did it feel knowing your team was competing at the very first FTC Preview Event and becoming the finalist alliance? 

“It was so amazing being able to compete at the very first event this season! We were especially excited about seeing some of the tremendous FIRST staff and volunteers from the World Championship again. We came to the event just hoping to test out our robot in real match play and were definitely not expecting to become the first seed alliance captain and finalist alliance!” 

What was the overall experience for your team? 

“All of the amazing volunteers truly made the competition a fun and smooth experience. It was really nice to be able to practice judging as well as matches so that we already have something to work off of when we compete at advancing competitions.” 

What would you tell other teams gearing up for their first event? 

“Don’t worry too much about comparing yourself to other robots. Focus on preparing your robot and keeping it unique to your team. It’s a long season — things don’t have to be perfect right away.” 

Any shoutouts? 

“We would love to thank our generous sponsors Lockheed Martin and Gene Haas, our alliance partners 23213 Open Source, and our mentors, especially Ruth Ann Francis. We also want to thank Sharon Sledge, Bryan Melton, and Dalyn Velazquez from San Jac for being our amazing PDPs!” 

What’s one thing you learned? 

“We learned that focusing on making each component consistent helped us tremendously. Even though our robot was missing features we plan to add later, what we had was reliable and well-built. From here, we have a lot of room to grow.” 

— Julia, Anika, and Grace – FTC Team 19502, The Moment Makers 

At the end of the day, both teams and volunteers left with new knowledge, stronger connections, and renewed excitement for the season ahead. 

FIRST in Texas is proud to have hosted the first-ever FIRST Tech Challenge Preview Event, and we are so thankful to FIRST HQ for entrusting us with this responsibility! Here’s to another season of innovation, inspiration, and unstoppable Texas spirit!