2025 – 2026 Season Information
🏆 Robotics is a SPORT for engineers and business students.
FTC 23350 Microchips & Queso and FTC 25959 Gigabytes of Guac are looking for new members!
We are looking for motivated students with an interest in hardware, software, or business systems!
We recruit students who are:
- Enrolled in Grades 8th – 12th
- Currently taking Algebra 1 or higher
- Possess a deep curiosity in science
- Comfortable with public speaking and writing paragraphs
- Driven to learn and willing to dedicate 10 hours per week to learning skills in a group and independently
Please follow us on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter so you can come visit us at one of our meets to see how the FIRST Tech Challenge works!
👋 Hey there! Please read through the Competition F.A.Q. and 2025-2026 Season Information below.
Competition F.A.Q.
Q: What is Microchips & Queso FTC Team 23350?
A: Microchips & Queso (M&Q) is championship level community robotics team participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics competition. This team has experienced members who work about 20 hours a week and attend extra practices to compete at a high level and lead outreach events.
Q: What is Gigabytes of Guac FTC Team 25959?
A: Gigabytes of Guac a community robotics team participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics competition. This team has members who are new to robotics and provides opportunities to establish and learn new skills. They attend two practices per week and work 10 hours per week.
Q: What is FIRST Tech Challenge or FTC?
A: FIRST®(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a non-profit that gets kids excited about STEM through competitive robotics. There are 4 competition levels and our team competes in FIRST Tech Challenge. There are about 800 FTC teams in Texas and over 7,000 teams in the world.
Each September FIRST Tech Challenge releases a new game challenge. After the game announcement teams design in CAD, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams.
- Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology.
- Coded using Java-based programming.
- At League Tournament each team gives a 15 minute presentation and presents a 15 page portfolio.
- Strategy and scouting happen on competition days!
This is the announcement video for the 2024-2025 season’s game, “Into the Deep!”
Q: Why are we competing in FIRST Tech Challenge?
FIRST is More Than Robots®, FIRST participants are guided by a signature set of Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, market, and showcase their achievements. Our team prioritizes gracious professionalism, fostering essential communication skills that empower students to excel in both business and personal interactions.
Through FTC robotics, driven students have the opportunity to learn:
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Programming and website development
- Manufacturing (3D printing, laser cutting, CNC)
- Team work
- Engineering design process
- Material design
- Electrical engineering
- Technical writing
- Outreach and marketing
- Video production
- Public speaking
- Professional communication (email, phone calls, in person)
- Fundraising
- Project management
Q: What does an FTC robotics team do?
A FTC robotics team works together to design, build, and program a robot to compete at a robotics meet in partnership with business team members.
Students specialize in one of three sub-teams:
- Design Team: 3D Modeling using Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Programming Team: Programming robot mechanisms and autonomous paths using Java
- Business Team: Strategy and Marketing for competition days
The entire team also spends time preparing for competition, fundraising, and outreach.
- Competition:
- Learn game rules, design, and build a scoring robot.
- Collect and analyze data.
- Collaborate in alliances and mentor other teams.
- Fundraising:
- Meet budget goals for robot parts and registration.
- Individual fundraising targets, aiming to complete before September.
- Outreach & Motivation:
- Connect with industry professionals for career insights.
- Share STEM knowledge through festivals and workshops.
- Pursue judged awards for outreach efforts.
Q: What does a match look like?
Here is one of Microchips & Queso and Gigabytes of Guac matches at League Tournament.
Q: What does a robot look like?
A: Every robot is unique to each team. This is Microchips & Queso robot, Chip, for the Into the Deep season. Chip’s structural parts are machined out of aluminum using our CNC machine.
A: This is Gigabytes’s of Guac robot, Giggy, which uses off-the-shelf components and custom 3D printed parts.
2025 – 2026 Season Information
Q: Who are the team coaches and mentors?
Daniel Espinoza, Amanda Espinoza, and Mr. Marcus. Coach Daniel is a software engineer. Coach Amanda coaches the business sub-teams. Mr. Marcus is a professional Mechanical Engineer who mentors CAD and all mechanical systems.
Q: What ages can participate?
Microchips & Queso and Gigabytes of Guac is for teens, age 13-18 who love STEM and robots! Students must be age 13 before kickoff on September 6, 2025.
Q: Who is this for?
Microchips & Queso and Gigabytes of Guac are for students who want to learn engineering and business skills who are also:
- Enrolled in Grades 8th – 12th
- Currently taking Algebra 1 or higher
- Possess a deep curiosity in science
- Comfortable with public speaking and writing paragraphs
- Driven to learn and willing to dedicate 10 hours per week to learning skills in a group and independently
Q: Where does the team meet?
Team mentor’s home and air-conditioned garage in north central San Antonio near 1604 and 281.
Q: When do the teams meet?
Microchips & Queso Team Schedule
Beginning on September 2, 2025 Microchips & Queso will meet every Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoons until the season ends in February, March, or April.
🔵 The season ends when we do not qualify to advance to the next level.
🔵 Attendance for the entire practice time is required.
🔵 Practices may go long and extra meetings may occasionally be needed to complete a specific task.
- Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Saturdays 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gigabytes of Guac Team Schedule
Gigabytes of Guac may meet twice a week until the first competition in November. After November, the team may meet once a week on Tuesdays unless a student is motivated to attend extra practices on Saturdays.
- Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Saturdays 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Extra Required Practice Times
- July 12, 2025 – Parent Meeting and Team Orientation
- August 4, 2025 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Summer Training
- August 5, 2025 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Summer Training
- August 6, 2025 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Summer Training
FTC Kickoff Event
The San Antonio FTC Kickoff Event will be on Saturday September 6, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m at a local location. It is a lot of fun to watch the game reveal video with other FTC teams to start the season. After San Antonio FTC event, both teams will meet at the coaches’ house to begin brainstorming and learning the challenge.
Q: What does a competition season include?
The competition season includes:
🔵 scrimmage meets
🔵 3 regular season competition meets
🔵 1 League Tournament
🔵 Possible advancement to Semi-Area Championship, Area Championship, State Championship, and World Championship.
Throughout the season we also participate in outreaches to demo our robots to teach STEM to the San Antonio community.
Approximate Season Schedule
The official league schedule is released in September or October so we don’t have the specific dates now. FTC Kickoff is normally the first Saturday of September. This is a full day event at a local high school.
League meets are on Saturdays and are usually once per month November through February for a total of 4 guaranteed meets. Last year our league meets were at Judson Middle School from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
🗓️ Season Example:
Sept. through Nov. is Build Season (very busy!!)
Nov. – 1st League Meet
Dec. – 2nd League Meet
Jan. – 3rd League Meet and League Tournament
Feb. through April – Playoffs Competitions
If the team qualifies for playoffs then extra meets will be in March and April.
Outside of official competition meets we participate in scrimmages with other teams to prepare for competition. In the 2023-2024 season we participated in 3 scrimmages in San Antonio and 2 scrimmages in Austin.
Q: What is the cost to join the team?
Microchips & Queso: The cost to register for the 2025-2026 season is $900 per student. Siblings receive a $200 discount.
Gigabytes of Guac: The cost to register for the 2025-2026 season is $700 per student.
➡️ Students have the opportunity to fundraise and be reimbursed the registration fee. The registration fee is not refundable.
Students will be required to purchase a team t-shirt and khaki pants. Team hoodies will be available, but are optional.
Q: What does the cost include?
These are examples of what the registration fee is used for:
- Robot parts
- Team practice
- Competition fees
- Tools
- Nonprofit corporation expenses
- Marketing materials
- Professional printing for competition judging
- Practice game field and elements
- 3D printer filament and other consumables
Q: What does the cost NOT include?
Students will be required to purchase a team t-shirt and khaki pants. Team hoodies will be available, but are optional.
- Travel to competitions
- Hotel costs for out of city competitions for multiple nights
- Food and snacks
- T-shirts
- Personal computers
Q: What is the time commitment level for team members?
FTC Robotics requires a high level of time commitment. Time requirement is approximately 10 hours per week for practice, online meetings, and self-guided study.
Competitive robotics is like being involved in a varsity team sport or a business startup. Each team member will fill a specific role that is vital to the team’s success.
Student involvement might include the following:
- Summer meetings in July and August
- Twice a week meetings (September – March).
- Slack and video conferencing time outside of practice time.
- Outreaches at a science festival, schools, or business to be determined.
- Possible sponsorship meetings with companies.
- Saturday meets – 3 league meets, 1 league tournament, and a possible Central Area Championship or Texas State Championship.
Q: What is the time commitment level for parents?
This team will need lots of parent involvement and support especially if the student is brand new to FTC. Parents are required to be in the Slack channel as this is how information is communicated.
Parent involvement includes the following:
- Subscribe to a shared calendar and keep up with the schedule
- Get students to meetings on time
- Volunteer at FTC competitions (will include online and in-person training)
- Provide snacks and lunch for the competitions
- Provide computer access for your student
- Sign up to be present at practices and assist team coaches
Q: Does my student need their own computer?
Yes. Each student needs to bring a computer. Students may share a computer with a family member. Each student is required to use email, participate in a Slack channel, and access Notion.
💻 If a team member is a programmer, then they will need a strong computer that can run Android Studio.
Q: Is there a Code of Conduct?
YES! Both parents and students will be required to sign a Code of Conduct during the selection process. One of the main tenets of FIRST is Gracious Professionalism.
Gracious Professionalism is doing things that encourage high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individual and community.
Q: Can I visit the team?
Yes! Please fill out our contact form to ask about available times.
Open House Dates:
🏠 April 5, 2025 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
🏠 May 3, 2025 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Try It Out Day!
😎 May 31, 2025 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Q: We’re not ready to join this season. How do I stay connected for more information?
You can sign up for our newsletter in the page footer for communication about future events.
Q: When is the deadline to sign up?
The last day to fill out the application is June 20, 2025.
Q: This sounds incredible! How do I join?
Application Process:
Step 1 – Attend an Open House or Try-Out Day
Step 2 – A parent and student fill out the application
Step 3 – Complete an in-person interview
Step 4 – Team decides. Students are not on the team until an official invitation has been sent.
The application process helps families determine if competing in robotics is the right fit for the student and the team.
To get started fill out the contact form below to start a conversation with the team coaches.
