Over its storied history, Rockhurst has had some nationally-ranked teams but few, if any, top finishers on the international stage. That’s exactly where Rock robotics finished last year, and they’re looking to build off that as they look to qualify for Worlds again this weekend.
The Jesubots, as the team is formally known, finished third in their division at Worlds in 2024. That meant they placed within the top 72 teams out of almost 4,000 worldwide. That kind of success might usually mean they’re the talk of the school, but that’s not the case.
“I think I might have heard we were good at robotics over the announcements,” junior Will Robertson said. “I haven’t heard much.”
Many students are unaware of the success of the Jesubots, but all it takes is walking back toward the robotics classroom on the south end of the building to see evidence of their success. You’ll be met with three large banners showing they’ve won a regional competition for three straight years. That means they also qualified for the FIRST Championship, more commonly known as Worlds, which brings hundreds of teams from around the globe to Houston to compete.
Beyond knowledge of the team’s success, many in the Rockhurst community don’t know much about the sport of robotics either. Each January, the team is given the challenge for that season. It’s something new every year, with new rules, new requirements for the robots and new ways to win the match.
“This is like, if you’re an athlete and you’re told you’re playing football. [You’re told] ‘No one’s ever played this game before. Here are the rules, and make sure you get the touchdown,'” head coach Tim Nendick said.
Even with the challenges the sport brings, the Jesubots have been very consistent in reaching the highest levels of competitions.
“The goal is Worlds, because if you make it to Worlds you get a chance at winning it,” Nendick said. “This year we have one of the hardest routes to Worlds.
“Getting to Worlds is never guaranteed for us.”
The Jesubots are a fairly new addition to Rockhurst, only being a competitive team since 2016. Regardless, it has had plenty of time to establish itself among the best teams in the region–if not the country. The Jesubots have gotten there, in no small part, thanks to the backing of (and funding from) the school.
“We are so lucky that the school supports us,” Nendick said.
“Some of the tools they have given us are in the same price range as a car!”
These high-tech machines aren’t specifically for the robotics program.
“The resources the robotics team has received aren’t specific to the team,” Nendick said. “Any student who has some passion project and needs some of the machines here can use them.”
Right now, though, the Jesubots are utilizing all the tools at their disposal, seeking to get back to Worlds for the fourth straight year. They will compete in the Greater Kansas City Regional Friday and Saturday at Park Hill South High School. Matches begin Friday at 11 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. Saturday. They can be watched online here. The Jesubots will square off against 35 other teams, with only a select few earning their way to Houston.
