AHS teams take top two spots in US Drone Soccer district finals

ELON —  Teams from Asheboro High School captured the top two spots in the 2026 US Drone Soccer District IV Championship held at Elon University’s South Campus gym on April 11.

This high-stakes STEM showdown brought together top teams from North Carolina and Virginia, including Randolph County’s Wheatmore High School’s Silver and Red Spears team.

The winning team was the senior-led Black Hawks from AHS, which defeated AHS Blue in the championship match. 

A third Asheboro City Schools team, the Carolina Cardinals, was also part of the competition.

The Black Hawks’ Jennifer Gabriel was named tournament MVP. Other members were Samuel Castro Perez, Ozmar Martinez, Jaycoll Reyes, Yug Patel, Seongyun Kim and Keneth Morales. The team was coached by Wendy Graham.

Drone soccer combines drone piloting, engineering and teamwork in a high-energy competition played inside a protective arena. Students design, build, program, and operate drone “soccer balls” while collaborating in dynamic team environments. 

This event highlights North Carolina’s leadership in STEM innovation, career-connected learning, and K–12 and higher education collaboration, made possible through the partnership of Asheboro City Schools, Elon University and NC State University. 

The next stop is the National competition in Daytona Beach, FL, on May 18 and 19.

Twenty-eight states have US Drone Soccer Programs. To learn more, visit USDroneSoccer.org.