FLYT 2290, a Rockford-based high school community FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, has qualified for the Illinois State Championship following a season defined by growth, resilience, and student-led improvement. It will take place June 12-13 in Naperville and brings together top FRC teams from across the state.
FLYT 2290 has four RPS 205 students on the team. They are all from Auburn High School:
Kai Holdmann, Senior
Zephyr Farris, Senior
Micah Quirk, Sophomore
Jaxon Ketchum, Freshman
After overcoming technical challenges at the Minnesota Bluff Country Regional, students redesigned key portions of their robot, improving accuracy, reliability, and overall performance. The student-led improvements between competitions paid off at the Midwest Regional in Arlington Heights, where the team finished ranked No. 10 with an 8-6 qualification record, was selected as the first pick of Alliance 5, and earned the Quality Award for excellence in robot design and fabrication.
“One of the coolest parts of the season was seeing how much our robot improved between competitions,” said Safety Captain Asya Mausehund. “We identified problems, made improvements, and seeing it all come together on the field was really rewarding.”
FLYT students gain hands-on experience in engineering, programming, manufacturing, media, marketing, leadership, and project management while working alongside mentors to solve real-world problems.
As a community-based team, FLYT serves students across the Rockford region whose schools may not offer robotics opportunities. The team meets at 304 Main and welcomes any high school or homeschool students interested in technology, business, media, and leadership.
Community members can meet the team on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Rockford City Market, where students will showcase their robot, Ad Astra, and share information about robotics opportunities in Rockford.
As FLYT prepares for the Illinois State Championship, the team continues its mission to expand access to STEAM opportunities and develop skills that extend far beyond robotics.