In a world of high-stake robotics competions, few things are as satisfying as a clean sweep at a competion, especially at our first district event. At the 2026 Midland District Qualifier Event we, the Freeland Fabricators, did exactly that. As one of our two events of the season, the Midland competition served as a perfect example in both technical execution and community outreach, with us  walking away as District Event Winners and the winners of the honored Engineering Inspiration Award.

Midland District Qualifier – Qualification Matches

We entered the qualification matches with a robot that was as reliable as it was fast. Over the course of twelve intense qualifying matches, we maintained a stellar record of 10-2-0, eventually clutching a grip of the #1 seat in a field of around 40 teams. This top-ranking position gave us the first pick during Alliance Selection, where we strategically invited Team 5712 (Hemlock’s Gray Matter) and Team 5603 (The WarriorBots) to join us in the finals.

In the quarterfinals and semifinals, Our team and our impeccable picks showed incredible coordination, balancing offensive scoring with natural defensive elements sprinkled within. The finals were a local showdown against Alliance #2, featuring teams like Rockefeller Robotics and E-Ville Empire from Garber, and Mount Pleasant. Despite the high pressure, our alliance took the victory in a two-match win, with scores like 205–201 and 263–166, proving that our robot was built to win. 

Awards

While winning the blue banner for on the field performance is the goal of every drive team, we also acquired one of the most respected judged awards in FIRST… the Engineering Inspiration/EI Award.

Engineering Inspiration celebrates a team’s outstanding success in advancing the respect and appreciation for engineering within their school and community. For us, this win highlights our commitment to sustainability, community outreach, and mentoring younger students. Winning this award at the district level is a significant achievement to us, as not only recognizes our impact and outreach but also provides a direct path to the State Championship to win it there.

By winning both the event and the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Midland District Qualifier, we earned a massive haul of 76 district points in a single competition. This performance jumpstarted us to the top of the Michigan rankings, placing us at 18th out of over 600 teams statewide.

Looking Ahead

As our team prepares for our second district event in Kentwood and looks toward the State championship, we carry with us the momentum of a #1 alliance victory and the pride of being a leader in teaching STEM.