CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – Charlotte County Public Schools proudly recognizes the achievements of Charlotte High School robotics team 13093 Golden Fish following an exceptional performance at the FIRST Championship, held April 29 through May 2, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
Competing among the world’s top teams at the FIRST Championship DECODE event, Golden Fish represented Charlotte High School on a global stage for the seventh time in the past 14 years. The championship featured six divisions, each consisting of 56 highly competitive teams.
Golden Fish competed in the Ross Division, where they demonstrated consistency and resilience across 10 qualification matches over multiple days. The team finished 29th overall in their division, positioning themselves as a strong contender heading into alliance selections.
Following qualification rounds, Golden Fish was selected as the second pick by the third-ranked alliance captain, DeSoto Technix (Mississippi), alongside SciFighters (Israel). The alliance advanced through the playoff rounds, ultimately reaching the Division Finals before falling to the event’s highest-scoring alliance.
As a result of their performance, Golden Fish earned the Division Finalist trophy, along with a plaque and medals. This marks the first time a Charlotte High School robotics team has secured a playoff performance trophy at the FIRST Championship.
The team’s offensive power rating (OPR) of 147.17 ranked 15th in the Ross Division and 123rd out of more than 8,600 teams worldwide, underscoring their competitive excellence on an international level.
Team members include:
- Chris George, mentor and teacher
- Leif Bretan, human player and coach
- Chanley Brown, driver
- Jacob Robin Lope, driver
“I’m very proud of our Golden Fish team that competed at the FIRST Championship,” said Coach Chris George. “They did an amazing job, and the results were outstanding. We went there with confidence that the robot would accomplish big scores and compete at a high level. They should be very proud of all they achieved this robotics season and look forward to next year.”
Charlotte County Public Schools continues to expand opportunities in STEM education, providing students with real-world experiences that build problem-solving, collaboration, and technical skills needed for future success.
