Chinese-American Middle Schoolers Win Robotics U.S. Open Championship

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LAPost/OMAHA, Iowa (April 2, 2025) – A team of five Chinese-American middle school students made history today at the 2025 VEX Robotics U.S. Open Championship in Omaha, as Team 956A SuperDraco crowned the Skills Challenge national title with a decisive victory. Their staggering 920-point performance not only secured the championship but also set a new record for both the U.S. and North American VEX IQ Robotics Skills.  

From Left: Laura Chen, Winnie Luo, Atticus Guo, Xingzhuo He, Wantao Li

Fresh off their March victory at California’s state championships, the team composed of Atticus Guo, Xingzhuo He, Winnie Luo, Laura Chen, and Wantao Li demonstrated near-flawless teamwork and technical innovation. 

Atticus Guo, now a three-time national champion, and co-captain Xingzhuo He’s extensive competition experience and steady leadership drove breakthroughs in robot design, engineering, and programming were the heart of the team’s success.  Their innovative mechanical structure optimization system and precision autonomous programming algorithms that outperformed rivals throughout the competition.  

The team’s defining moment came during the high-pressure Skills Challenge, where Winnie Luo’s seamless coordination as the “loader” synchronized perfectly with Atticus Guo and Xingzhuo He’s masterful robot control. Their human-machine synergy achieved unprecedented efficiency, culminating in the record-breaking 920-point triumph.  

As one of the world’s premier STEM competitions for youth, VEX Robotics emphasizes engineering acumen and collaborative problem-solving. Team SuperDraco’s victory not only highlights the extraordinary potential of Chinese-American students in STEM but has also sparked renewed discussions about early-age robotics education.  

“These students embody how passion and dedication can transcend age barriers,” said a VEX official during the awards ceremony. “They’ve rewritten the playbook for what young innovators can achieve.”  

With their sights now set on the 2025 VEX World Championship, Team SuperDraco’s story continues to inspire a new generation of engineers—proving that robotics excellence knows no age limits.