FIRST® Tech Challenge · Team 8620 · Edwardsville, IL
WormGear Warriors
The WormGear Warriors are a student-led FTC team inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders through hands-on robotics, teamwork, and community outreach.
About FIRST Tech Challenge
FIRST® was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Teams of up to 15 students (grades 7–12) design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge.
Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and teamwork.
Our Mission
The WormGear Warriors strive for the advancement of STEAM through participation in FIRST robotics. We empower students to become tomorrow’s leaders by teaching leadership skills and giving them mechanical, electrical, programming, and presentation experiences.
More Than Robots®
What We Do as a Team
FIRST Tech Challenge teams design, build, and program robots — but we also learn leadership, outreach, and Coopertition® along the way.
🔧 Design & Build
Mechanical design, CAD, wiring, and fabrication — students engineer competition robots from concept to completion.
💻 Code & Control
Autonomous and driver-controlled programming in Java/Kotlin — turning strategy into precise robot behavior on the field.
🏆 Compete & Lead
Head-to-head alliance competition at qualifiers and championships — developing teamwork, strategy, and gracious professionalism.
🌍 Outreach
Community events, mentoring, and spreading STEAM — inspiring the next generation through Metro Area Robotics Society (MARS).
Meet the WormGear Warriors
Students and mentors from Edwardsville, IL — building robots and leaders since 2014.
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Blake
Team Lead
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Maribel
Build/CAD Team
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Vishnu
Software Team
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Reese
Outreach Co-Lead, Build/Cad Team
Keeping Up!
Keep up with our team! Read the latest event stories.
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Qualifier 2022-2023 Summary
Qualifier 2022-2023 Powerplay went very well! Our day started off rough, losing our first 3 matches. Match 1 was a…
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COVID-19: Helping Our Communities
Our team made hair bonnets for nurses working at SLU hospital. The bonnets help keep hair controlled and we have…
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COVID-19- The Impact On FTC
The Impact of COVID-19 on the WormGear WarriorsAs everyone knows the Coronavirus and had a great impact on schooling, sports,…
Join the FIRST Movement
Whether you want to compete, volunteer, mentor, or support — there is a place for you in the global FIRST community.
Volunteer
No experience needed — help at a local FIRST event and inspire students.
Join Our Team
Students grades 7–12 in the Edwardsville area — come build robots with us!
Support Us
Sponsors and donors help keep our nonprofit team running year after year.
Our Sponsors
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Contact Us
Have questions about joining the team, sponsoring us, or volunteering? We’d love to hear from you.
📍 Edwardsville, Illinois