Flagler Schools’ Robotics Team Secures Top-10 International Finish

The Oranges” Crush Competition in Global SeaPerch Event

(College Park, MD) - The next generation of Flagler County robotics engineers made waves on a global stage in Maryland this past week. Leading the way was a Buddy Taylor Middle School (BTMS) Team which secured a Top-10 Finish at the 2026 International SeaPerch Challenge held at the University of Maryland.

   “The Oranges,” a BTMS team made up of Alexander Mangal and an Indian Trails Middle Schooler, Zachary Selic, crushed the competition with an eighth-place finish in a field of more than 200 teams from around the planet.
 
The premier underwater robotics competition challenged middle school, high school, and open-class teams from six countries and 44 states to design, build, and operate underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
 
The Oranges dominated several key categories of the rigorous engineering event. The duo earned a flawless, perfect score of 100 points in the Mission Course event, locking in 9th place. Their Technical Design Report earned a stellar score of 92.33, capturing 2nd place, internationally. And, in underwater agility, the team placed 29th in the high-pressure Obstacle Course with a rapid time of 1:02.
 
Beyond the pool, Mangal and Selic delivered an expert presentation to judges detailing their engineering process, collaboration strategies, and how they overcame design setbacks.
 
Under the guidance of SeaPerch Advisor Ms. Tracy Jones and SeaPerch Coach Mike Bozzo, two other BTMS teams delivered impressive performances against the international field, as well. “The Ammonites” (Lucas Strunk, Nathan Cabrera Delombard, and Noah Johnson) captured 37th place overall and “The Great Whites” (Levente Beregszaszi, Ashton Barnes, Alexander Dattolico, and Robert Peters) secured 55th place overall.
 
The journey to Maryland involved numerous hours of testing, troubleshooting, and refining underwater vehicles. The cutting-edge materials and STEM supplies used by the students were funded through a generous grant from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
 
“The results reflect much more than standard rankings; they represent a triumph of critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience under pressure,” Jones said. “The achievements of The Oranges, The Ammonites, and The Great Whites our commitment to fostering excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.”