About WCCA Robotics
WCCA Robotics is the robotics program of West Coast Christian Academy, located in Florida. During the 2025–26 season, we fielded three teams in FIRST robotics programs — one FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team and two FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams.
Our program teaches students real-world skills in engineering, programming, teamwork, and problem-solving through the excitement of robotics competition.
About FIRST
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global robotics organization that runs several competition programs for students of all ages.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
FTC is for students in 7th–12th grade. Teams design, build, and program robots using real engineering tools and materials. Robots compete in head-to-head alliance matches on a 12×12 foot field. There’s a new game challenge every year — this year’s game is called BIOBUZZ.
Learn more about our FTC team →
FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
FLL is for students in 4th through 8th grade. Teams build autonomous LEGO robots, develop an innovation project that solves a real-world problem, and are judged on core values like teamwork, discovery, and inclusion. Each season has a different theme — this year’s theme is BIOGLOW (biodiversity).
Learn more about our FLL teams →
The Story of Marcus Bartholomew
You might be wondering — who is Marcus Bartholomew, and why are all our teams named after him?
It all started during the 2024–25 FLL Submerged season. One of the missions on the game field involved a LEGO shark figure. Our FLL team adopted him as their mascot and named him Marcus Bartholomew the Third Junior — and eventually decided to name the entire team after him. There is even a real shark named after Marcus!
When WCCA started its first FTC team, the students continued the tradition. The FTC team became Marcus Bartholomew the Third Senior — and Marcus got an upgrade with a cowboy hat, mustache, and cane.
And when a new homeschool FLL team was formed, they chose their own identity — Robo Gators of the Lost Park!
Marcus has become more than just a mascot — he represents our teams’ creativity, humor, and spirit. The students even have a pledge to Marcus and have written poems in his honor! 🦈
Our History
- 2023–24 — FLL Masterpiece: WCCA’s first FLL team began competing
- Adventist Robotics Florida Qualifier: 2nd place in Robot Game and 3rd place in Innovation Project
- 2024–25 — FLL Submerged: The team became Marcus Bartholomew the Third Junior
- Adventist Robotics Florida Qualifier: Champion’s Award, Robot Game Award (1st place), and Coach/Mentor Award for Daniel Plaisted
- Adventist Robotics Championship Tournament: Champion’s Award (1st place overall) 🏆
- Florida Sunshine Invitational: Rising All-Star Award
- 2025–26 — FLL Unearthed and FTC Decode: WCCA Robotics expanded with its first FTC team, Marcus Bartholomew the Third Senior, and a second FLL team, Robo Gators of the Lost Park
- FLL Florida Qualifier: Robo Gators won the Champion’s Award and Robot Performance Award; Marcus Bartholomew the Third Junior was Champion’s Award runner-up
- FLL Championship: Marcus Bartholomew the Third Junior won the Champion’s Award and placed 3rd in Robot Performance; Robo Gators won the Robot Performance Award
- Florida Robo Rally: Robo Gators won the Robot Performance Award and Inclusion Core Values trophy; Marcus Bartholomew the Third Junior placed 2nd in Robot Game
- FTC Carolina Scrimmage: Marcus Senior won the tournament championship with the NC Avengers
- FTC Championship: Marcus Senior won the Control Award and placed 3rd in the playoffs
Connect With Us
Want to get involved? Learn how you can support our teams!