FIRST Robotics team fundraises for competition

Center Moriches High School Robotics Team 4458, Infernobotix, annually participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The team is currently preparing for the 2027 upcoming game, First Canopy, a biodiversity-themed season, which will be announced in January.

Team 4458, Infernobotix, is Center Moriches High School’s FIRST Robotics Competition team founded in 2013 and has competed in FIRST’s annual competition ever since. The students organize and run the entire team with mentor guidance.

Coach James Spinaris, the head mentor, said the students do it all: building, programming, fundraising, designing and CAD a fully functional robot.

“FIRST Robotics is more than a club, and it’s more than a competition. It’s a true team in every sense of the word,” he said. “In just three months, they gain more real-world engineering experience, problem-solving skills, and life lessons than many could ever learn in a traditional classroom alone at any level of schooling.”

FIRST Robotics, he said, challenges students to push themselves further, think bigger, overcome obstacles, and accomplish things they may never have thought possible.

“And the amazing thing is that this process starts all over again every year. No matter how many years you’ve been involved in robotics, there is always a new challenge, a new lesson to learn, and another opportunity to grow,” he continued. “I am incredibly proud of our students, their dedication, their teamwork, and everything they have accomplished. Their hard work and determination are what make this team so special.”

However, he said,  as every great team knows, they’re not just here to participate but also compete, to push the limits, and to be the best they can be.

“We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we’re not done yet. This year, we’re raising the bar, preparing for the challenges ahead, and going after a win!” he added.

FIRST is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for STEM education through its robotics and outreach programs. It has an international reach with over 3,000 teams that annually compete in their robotics competitions.

This year was their “rebuilding” season due to nearly half of the team graduating in

2025. However, they were able to get their robot fully built in six weeks, attend their first regional, the Finger Lakes Regional, and rank 33rd of 55. However, due to major electrical issues, they lost many matches.

“We did not let this stop us; if anything, it made us even stronger!,” said Matthew Quarltere, team member. “Less than a week later at the Long Island Regional, we ranked 10th of 48, and captained the seventh alliance! We were incredibly lucky to create an amazing alliance and made it to Round 2 of the playoffs and only lost by one point!”

FIRST Robotics Competition puts students from grades 9 through 12 under strict rules and time constraints, where they are challenged to raise funds and build their team “brand” to create industrial-sized robots, which compete in collaborative challenges against likeminded competitors.

The team is currently seeking sponsorships for their 2026 season. Donations for sponsorships include: Tier 1 - $250-recognition as a sponsor for 4458 online and at FIRST events; Tier 2 - $500; Tier 1 plus - company logo printed on pins handed out at competitions; Tier 3 - $1000; Tier 2 plus - company logo printed on competition shirts, thank you basket with competition shirts; Tier 4 - $2000; Tier 3 plus - company logo on the robot, Tier 5 - $5000+; and Tier 4 plus - featured as title sponsor at all events, and demonstration of our robot at sponsor facility.

According to the program, students who participate in FIRST programs have a heightened interest in STEM and business fields.

The team also welcomes material donations, manufacturing help, or other opportunities. For questions about the team or sponsoring email: team4458infernorobotics@gmail.com or call: (631) 338-1295.