Kenwood JROTC Robotics Team Wins Tennessee State Fair

Team 26163X took first place at the Tennessee State Fair Robotics Competition and a second first-place finish in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Robotics

Close-up photograph of a robot drivetrain with aluminum rails and black gearboxes resting on a plywood competition table in an empty gymnasium. — Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Team 26163X took first place at the Tennessee State Fair Robotics Competition, then won again in Elizabethton and advanced to the semifinals of the Cross-State Clash in Ohio. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Team 26163X captured first place at the Tennessee State Fair Robotics Competition. The team earned another first-place finish and a technical award for robot design and engineering in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Why it matters

The wins highlight the growth of the Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Program, which now fields four teams. The team's run to the semifinal round at the Cross-State Clash in Ohio also marked a strong showing against out-of-state competition.

The Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Program fields four teams, and Team 26163X finished one match short of competing for the Cross-State Clash championship. The stub does not report the total number of teams competing at the events.

The players

Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Program

The program fields four robotics teams and grew from a single team into a multi-team program at Kenwood High School in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The details

Team 26163X, part of the Kenwood High School JROTC Robotics Program in Clarksville, won first place at the Tennessee State Fair Robotics Competition and again in Elizabethton, where it also received a technical award for robot design and engineering. The team then advanced to the semifinal round at the Cross-State Clash in Ohio.

Current robotics competition season: Team 26163X wins at the Tennessee State Fair and in Elizabethton.
Upcoming: The team is scheduled to compete in the V5RC Arsenal Tech Fall Tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Upcoming (later): The team is scheduled to compete at the Louisville Slugger Signature Competition.

Tech Race

Competing in the V5RC circuit places Kenwood's teams against robotics programs from across the United States and several international teams. The Louisville Slugger Signature Competition is expected to draw top programs from across the country and abroad.

For families and students in Clarksville, the program offers hands-on engineering experience and competitive travel opportunities. The team's upcoming events in Indiana and beyond show the scope of competition available to local students.

The takeaway

Student robotics programs can build serious engineering skill and national-level competitive experience. Students interested in similar programs can look for school-based robotics teams and VEX-affiliated competitions in their area.

What happens next

The team is scheduled to compete at the V5RC Arsenal Tech Fall Tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana, followed by the Louisville Slugger Signature Competition.