GSSM Robotics Team Heads to International Invitational in Chicago

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (July 2, 2025) ─ After an impressive showing at the 2025 FIRST Robotics World Championship, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) robotics team, the Golden Dragons (Team 772), has been invited to compete at the Chicago Robotics Invitational (CRI), taking place July 18–19.

The CRI is an elite international competition that draws FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams from around the world. Known for its high-level gameplay and unique field modifications, CRI presents competitors with new technical and strategic challenges. This year, 22 of the 38 teams earned their place through the FIRST Premier Event advancement system. The Golden Dragons applied for one of the remaining 16 coveted spots and were selected.

“We are thrilled that the Golden Dragons’ hard work, focus, and leadership have earned them a spot at the Chicago Robotics Invitational,” said Dr. Neval Erturk, vice president for academics at GSSM. “At the 2025 FIRST Robotics World Championship, Golden Dragons had the unique opportunity to join forces with students from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) during the division playoffs. This was a remarkable collaboration between two of the nation’s most rigorous STEM high schools. I am incredibly proud of how students from both the South Carolina and North Carolina Governor’s Schools came together on one of the world’s biggest robotics stages. That kind of cross-state teamwork embodies the very best of what GSSM values and what FIRST represents: innovation, excellence, and the power of collaboration.”

This invitation follows the team’s historic performance at the 2025 FIRST Championship in Houston, where they won 8 of their 10 qualifying matches and finished 9th out of 64 teams in their division. They advanced to the playoffs winning three out of four matches and reaching the division quarterfinals. Out of the seven South Carolina teams that attended, GSSM’s Golden Dragons were the only team to make it to the playoffs and the first S.C. team in history to advance to the division playoffs at the FIRST Championship.

“Braeden Montroy, in his second year as team captain, has done a remarkable job leading this dedicated group of juniors and seniors,” said Dr. Elaine Parshall, GSSM engineering instructor and team mentor. “At every event, these students operate with a level of focus and intensity rarely seen even among adults. Whether fixing mechanical or software issues, scouting competitors, or presenting to judges, they reminded me of the energy and precision you’d see during a NASA or SpaceX launch.”

The 12-member team includes:

• Braeden Montroy (Myrtle Beach), Captain and Mechanical Lead
• Sanjith Sunil (Marion), Software Lead
• Shivali Patel (Seneca), Outreach/Portfolio Lead
• Rishi Patel (West Columbia), Drive/Strategy Lead
• Peyton Weidner (Fort Mill), Scouting Lead, Mechanical Team
• Caroline Pringle (York), Software, Portfolio Team
• Caroline Locklair (Charleston), Portfolio, Mechanical Team
• Breanna VanAtter (West Union), Mechanical, Outreach Team
• Griffin LaRue (North Charleston), Portfolio, Mechanical Team
• Vyom Madeyanda (Fort Mill), Mechanical, Outreach Team
• Albert Mathisz (Greenville), Software, Mechanical Team
• Gabriel Howe (Inman), Software Lead

To learn more about the Chicago Robotics Invitational, visit www.chicagoroboticsinvitational.com. To learn more about GSSM’s robotics teams, visit www.scgssm.org/robotics.