Cactus Robotics Club Wins Invitational Title Competition

The Cobra Commanders Team 498, a competitive robotics club based out of Peoria Unified School District’s Cactus High School, brought home the championship banner from the Chezy Champs last weekend, one of the premier off-season FIRST Robotics Club events.

Chezy Champs is an invitational competition held in San Jose, Calif., where 40 elite teams from around the world are selected to battle for the title over the course of two days. This year, five of the six teams in the Chezy Champs were also in the FRC World Championship Einstein playoffs in April 2022 when Team 498, The Cobra Commanders, took the win.

The robotics team continues to build on their 2022 successes. Last school year, The Cobra Commanders received two of the most coveted robotics competition awards: the Chairman’s Award at the Arizona North Regional Competition, the most prestigious award at FIRST, and head coach for The Cobra Commanders, Adam Shroyer, was awarded Arizona Teacher of the Year at the 2022 Arizona North Regional Competition.  

The Cobra Commanders 498 is a local team of high school students, based out of Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz. that builds internationally recognized competitive robots. As a team, they work together to build large, 125 lb. robots that compete in games as a part of FIRST Robotics Competition. Alongside teachers, industry mentors and sponsors, the students design, fabricate, build, and program well-engineered robots in approximately six weeks.

Team 498 is always looking to add highly motivated new members and mentors. All students in grades eight through 12 attending any Peoria Unified school are eligible to join the team. Those interested in joining or becoming a mentor should email ashroyer@pusd11.net for more information or to get involved.

On October 22, 2022, Team 498 will be defending their Arizona State Championship Title at Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information about The Cobra Commanders, visit their website at www.team498.com.

Peoria Unified School District is nestled in the Northwest Valley of Peoria, Ariz. and is home to 42 stellar public schools that are unique and created to fit the needs of all students. Peoria Unified is the choice district for more than 37,000 students and 4,000 staff, serving as one of the largest employers in the West Valley and one of the largest unified school districts in Arizona. The district has signature programs spread out between 34 kindergarten through eighth-grade elementary schools and eight high schools that excel in academics, arts, athletics and Career and Technical Education programs. The Strategic Plan outlines a laser focus on four key areas: Student Success, Safety and Well-Being, Stewardship of Community Resources and Community Connection. Above all, Peoria Unified is committed to transparency, parent involvement and ensuring that “Every Student, Every Day is Prepared to Shape Tomorrow.”