Wired Boars Arrive in Houston for 2026 First® Robotics Competition

Wild Boars aren't native to Houston, Texas, but they will certainly be in the Lone Star State this week.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, members of the Choate Rosemary Hall Wired Boars made their way down south for the 2026 FIRST® Robotics Competition. There, they will compete against and build community with more than 600 high school teams from across the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, and beyond. Team load-ins began early on Wednesday, April 29, at 8 a.m. CDT, with the practice matches set to begin later in the day.

The Wired Boars are not new to the big stage. Last April, the Wired Boars, also known as Team 7407, captured the 2025 FIRST® New England District Championship and qualified for the 2025 FIRST® Robotics Competition in Houston. Competing against 74 other teams in the Milstein Division in Houston, the Wired Boars finished third and captained the third alliance, which finished fourth in the 2025 Milstein Division Playoffs.

This season, Team 7407 has kept working hard. In its 2026 REBUILT™ Season debut, the Wired Boars finished second and won the Autonomous Award. A few weeks later, Team 7407 returned to competition in Hartford, ending the event with a second-place finish, the Excellence in Engineering award sponsored by Littelfuse, and an opportunity to compete for the 2026 FIRST® New England District Championship. Team 7407 didn't walk away with the 2026 FIRST® New England District Championship, but the Wired Boars were one of 32 teams in a field of 200 to qualify for this year's FIRST® Championship.

Qualifying rounds for the 2026 FIRST® Championship will begin on Thursday, April 30, but it's important to note that the focus will not solely be on the field of competition. In addition, the annual event will feature an Innovation Fair and Scholarship Row, where students can see the latest technology from some FIRST sponsors, meet Hall of Fame teams, and network with colleges and universities that recruit FIRST® students.

Photo Credit: Choate Rosemary Hall Robotics (via @Choate_Robotics)

Editorial Credit: Ryan Shepard '14 is the Manager of Editorial Services at Choate Rosemary Hall, bringing 10+ years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and content strategy.