Four Allegany County Teams Advance to State Robotics Championship

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Jan. 30, 2026 — Four local robotics teams will compete at the state level after strong performances at the first FIRST LEGO League Qualifier on January 17. More than 200 students from 31 teams and 10 schools competed at the Allegany County FIRST LEGO League Qualifier, held at Allegany College of Maryland. The teams included six elementary school teams and four middle school teams, with four to 10 members per team. About 55 volunteers helped run the event, which drew a gym full of spectators.

The competition tests students on robot performance and design, research projects, and teamwork skills. The competition’s theme was archeology. Teams also present to judges, demonstrating their speaking skills. Teams spend months preparing, with many groups starting in September.

Students are judged in four main categories: innovation project, robot design, core values (teamwork and cooperation), and robot performance. The top teams in each category receive awards, and 40% of teams receive trophies. A fifth, the Judge’s Award, is also given to recognize a new team displaying great potential. 

“The quality of the projects and coding gets better and better each season, and the energy and camaraderie amongst our students remains second to none,” said Barry Hartung, president of REACT (Robotics and Engineering in Allegany County Together) and a robotics coordinator at Allegany County Public Schools.

Allegany County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano praised the program’s impact on students. “Innovation starts with teamwork, and these students are learning that lesson early,” Martirano said. “We’re grateful for the volunteers and coaches who make this program possible. The coding and robotics skills students develop here create pathways into our technical education programs and our P-TECH early college program through the Center for Career and Technical Education and ACM.”

Hartung noted that the high-energy emcee of the FLL competition was a former REACT participant and a 2021 Fort Hill graduate, Carl Eckard. Eckard, who is attending medical school after graduating from FSU and ACM, has been the voice of the competition for years. 

Four teams earned spots at the Maryland FLL State Championships on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County:

• Frostburg Mountain Movers, Mount Savage Middle School students who practiced at Mountain Ridge High School
• We Love D.I.R.T., Bishop Walsh School students
• REACT LEGO Eggos, Braddock Middle School students
• West Side Rockin’ Robots, West Side Elementary School students

REACT organized the event with support from Allegany College of Maryland, Allegany County Public Schools, the Appalachian Regional Commission, Hampton Inn of Cumberland and the LaVale Lions Club.

FIRST LEGO League gives students hands-on experience with robotics in a sports-like setting. Participants develop problem-solving, creativity and teamwork skills, and learn to use the scientific method in their research and innovation projects. Students also build soft skills by presenting their work to judges. The competition provides a pathway for students, with options to progress from elementary school teams through middle school and eventually to high school robotics programs and beyond. For more information, visit reactallegany.org. 

Robotics Competition 2026 Photos: