spartan avengers
Lower School | Grades 4–6
MCDS Spartan Robotics
Spartan Avengers, Bionic Spartans, and Cyber Spartans
At Miami Country Day School, innovation and teamwork come to life through MCDS Spartan Robotics, part of the worldwide FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) community. Our program includes three competitive teams representing different grade levels: the Spartan Avengers, our FIRST LEGO League Challenge team (Grades 4–6); the Bionic Spartans, our FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team (Grades 6–9); and the Cyber Spartans, our upper school FTC team (Grades 9–12).
Now in its third year, the Cyber Spartans achieved a major milestone, winning the South Florida League Competition and qualifying for the Florida State Championship Tournament. The Spartan Avengers, in their very first year, proudly earned the League Design Award for innovation and creativity. Meanwhile, the Bionic Spartans made a strong impression by debuting an extremely competitive robot at the first 2025–2026 FTC scrimmage, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Beyond competition, our teams embody the spirit of Gracious Professionalism, a cornerstone of the FIRST philosophy that emphasizes respect, collaboration, and excellence. This year, our students have expanded their impact through STEM and Robotics outreach workshops at other schools and by participating in MCDS’s Walk with Purpose. Additionally students from our robotics teams recently won first place in the Patently Impossible Project.
Together, the Spartan Robotics teams are building not only robots but also leadership, creativity, and a culture of innovation that continues to grow stronger each year. We look forward to a robust and successful season ahead, filled with learning, collaboration, and achievement.
meet our teams & coaches
Quick Highlights
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1STPlace, Robot Design (2023–24)
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10Team Members
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1Regional Qualification
About the team
Our Spartan Avengers First Lego League Team #60675 was founded by ten amazing and energetic lower and middle students. Levi Lustigman(4th), Matvey Osokin (4th), Nicolas Moraitis (4th), Khori Hill (4th), Daniel Wilson (4th), Franco Leyva (5th), Charles Arnold (5th), Lyon Auerbach (6th), Matthew Green (6th), Rhett Runzheimer (6th). What an amazing year, they qualified for regionals, and won first place in robot design. What a way to end a season…
Competing at the Koch Family Athletic Complex, players are encouraged to pursue excellence while building confidence, resilience, and strong relationships with teammates and coaches.
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge guides our youth by introducing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to students in grades from 4th to 6th through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together.
Our students Discover, how Investigate, and to Challenge themselves with the fundamentals of STEM and apply their abilities in an exciting way while building propensities for learning, with confidence, and cooperation abilities, working with each other along the way, with core values and innovation.
Bionic Spartans
Middle School | Grades 7–9
Quick Highlights
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1stPlace
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3Core Values
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5Team Members
About the TEAM
Join us as we embark on this thrilling journey, fueled by creativity, camaraderie, and a relentless drive to succeed. We strive to not only excel in FTC competitions but also to inspire and empower future generations of engineers and innovators.
Fueled by passion, creativity, and teamwork, we are poised to make a lasting impact on the robotics community. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey to redefine what’s possible in the realm of robotics.
We are the Bionic Spartans FTC team, an upcoming powerhouse of innovation and collaboration in the world of competitive robotics. Inspired by the core values of Miami Country Day School, our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.
The Bionic Spartans FTC team, founded by the dynamic quartet of William Kebrdle(8th) , Reece Liu(8th), Franco Betancourt(7th), and our newest addition, Alexander Webb(7th).
Together, these visionary individuals embody the spirit of determination, ingenuity, and collaboration that defines our team. With a shared passion for pushing the limits of technology and a commitment to excellence, the Bionic Spartans are poised to leave their mark on the competitive landscape.
cyber spartans
Upper School | Grades 10–12
Quick Highlights
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1stWins
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10Team Members
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1Regional Qualification
About the team
Welcome to the electrifying world of innovation and competition! We are FIRST Robotics FTC Team, Cyber Spartans 21882, the vanguard of Miami Country Day School’s Upper School Robotics.
Our odyssey in the realm of FIRST Robotics is a tale of passion and ingenuity, sparked by a cadre of extraordinary students with a shared vision to code, construct, and conquer in the robotic arena.
The founding team members are seen in the picture above: Tri Captains Gabriel Daiberl,’24 Scout Hudson’24, and Caroline Jiang’24, with Nicholas Korf ‘24 and Juana Verdiquio’24; not pictured Alex Mandel’24 and Luke Wong’25.
In our debut season of 2022, we embarked on an ambitious journey in the FIRST Tech Challenge, joining the ranks of the South Florida League. Under the guidance of Tracy Haswell, our Coach and Director of the Garner Center for Innovation, we forged our path with determination.
As we advanced into the 2023-2024 season, our team’s spirit and expertise flourished. Together, we delved deeper into the intricacies of coding and robotics engineering, tackling our second challenge with renewed vigor and creativity. Pictured below from left to right are: Francisco Apraiz ’25, Caroline Jiang ’24, Gabriel Daiberl ’24, Nicholas Korff ‘24, Audrina Dimmer’27, Luke Wong ‘25, and in front Marion Cheng, ‘27 and Scout Hudson ‘24, (Cameron Schoch ’26 not pictured).
Join us as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, driven by teamwork, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. The Cyber Spartans are not just a team; we’re a force to be reckoned with, and our journey is just beginning. Onward to victory!
Engineering and Programming the Future,
One Robot at a Time
Step into the dynamic world of MCDS Robotics, where creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology come together to redefine what students can achieve. Through participation in FIRST® Robotics, our students design, build, and program robots that compete on regional and national stages—applying real-world engineering, coding, and teamwork skills along the way.
More than a competition, MCDS Robotics is a thriving community that empowers students to lead, innovate, and solve complex challenges with confidence. It’s where curiosity meets purpose, and where the next generation of thinkers, inventors, and problem-solvers take their first steps toward shaping the future.
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS
| Laser and Chasers – Parents Event | Sep. 24, 2026 |
| Maker Fair | Feb. 6, 2027 |