Annual competition features student-created game

May 21, 2026 / The annual KCSD Robotics Bash brought together nearly 150 students from across Klamath County Wednesday (May 20), giving middle school and high school robotics teams a chance to compete, celebrate the season, and test a student-designed game called “Ball of War.”

Hosted by the Klamath County School District, this year’s BASH featured 39 high school teams and 28 middle school teams from Mazama, Bonanza, and Klamath Union high schools, and Brixner and Henley middle and junior high schools. The competition was in Linman Hall at the Klamath County Fairgrounds.

“This is really a tournament for the rookie teams,” said Laura Nickerson, Mazama and Brixner robotics coach and organizer of the event. “They learn how the schedule works, how matches are called and what the stress and excitement of competition feels like. Then next year they come in saying, ‘I’ve done this before.’ ”

Unlike traditional VEX Robotics games, “Ball of War” added a last-second twist. During the final 15 seconds of each match, referees tossed special balls onto the field. Teams could place the balls into scoring areas to reduce an opponent’s points to zero in that section.

“It’s kind of like a bomb,” Nickerson said. “The robots are scrambling to get these balls and place them strategically. All the coaches really liked this game because it adds a lot of excitement.”
The winning game design was created by Mazama High School students Logan Moseley and Bryce Raber, but the process started with far more ideas. Nickerson said students across participating schools spent weeks creating and pitching original game concepts for the event.

Overall, students created around 60 game submissions for this year’s Bash competition. Each school selected one top game to represent its program, and coaches from across the district then reviewed the finalist entries before selecting the official competition game.

“It gives students ownership of the event because they’re not just building robots — they’re designing the actual competition,” Nickerson said.

Nickerson said the annual event serves as both a season finale and a bridge between competition seasons. While official robotics competitions wrap up in March, the next year’s VEX game is not released until late April.

“Instead of just waiting around, this gives students something meaningful to work on,” she said.

This year’s high school championship team came from Klamath Union, with Riley, Griffin, Eli and Paul earning first place honors.

Mazama students Lizzy Rogers and Lily Pena placed second in the high school division.

In the middle school division, Brixner students Emory Reid, Jake Weller and Ronan Cherrick captured the championship title, while fellow Brixner students Nicoli Isaacson and Aaron Sanchez earned second place.

Nickerson said the event continues to grow each year and gives students an opportunity to experience competition in a supportive environment.

“For many of them, this is their first competition experience outside of sports,” she said. “Even if they lose, they’re excited to be here. It’s a good day.”