Downey Unified’s VEX IQ Robotics Tournament showcases young engineering talent

DOWNEY — Downey Unified is officially making its mark in elementary robotics with an outstanding achievement: out of 19 teams that competed in their first VEX IQ Robotics Tournament (VIQRC), six ranked in the top 50 in California, and ten ranked in the top 100.

This remarkable success highlights the dedication, talent, and hard work of these young competitors as they continue to establish Downey Unified’s presence in the competitive robotics landscape.

The Spartan Design Invitational #3: VIQRC 2024-2025 Rapid Relay Blended ES/MS was held on February 15, 2025, at Mary R. Stauffer Middle School. This first-ever blended elementary and middle school tournament brought together 32 teams from various schools across Southern California, including participants from Downey Unified’s elementary schools, Stauffer and Griffiths middle schools, and other schools in the Los Angeles area.

The event showcased an inspiring display of competition, collaboration, and innovation, demonstrating the growing strength of Downey Unified’s robotics program.

Nineteen elementary school teams competed for the first time with teams across Southern California, aiming to qualify for state matches, while middle school teams from Stauffer and Griffiths showcased their skills in intense yet collaborative competition.

Several teams made remarkable strides at the regional tournament, improving their Skills scores and teamwork performance since competing at Robolympics, the district’s elementary robotics competition, just three weeks prior.

A special congratulations goes to Price Autobots, who won the Excellence Award, and Alameda CyberClaw Tigers, who earned high Skills scores. These two teams have officially qualified to compete at the Elementary CA State Championship on March 1-2, an incredible achievement for Downey Unified’s robotics program.

Additionally, middle school teams from Stauffer and Griffiths have also earned spots in the Middle School CA State Championship, set for February 28-March 1.

One of the standout elements of the tournament was the interview portion, a new experience for elementary competitors. Students presented their engineering design processes to judges, explaining iterations, problem-solving strategies, and reflections on their successes and challenges.

This component added a valuable critical-thinking and communication element to the competition, further enriching the experience.

“The future of our elementary robotics programs are brighter than ever,” said Board of Education President, Linda Saldaña. “Having two elementary teams qualify for the State Championship, along with six of our teams ranking in the top 50 and ten in the top 100, is an extraordinary accomplishment. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey for our young engineers, and we can’t wait to see our students continue to grow, innovate, and compete at the highest levels.”