Bridgewater Town Council Honors TJ Squared Robotics Team as State Champions
Team 88 receives proclamation for historic victory in Massachusetts State Robotics Championship, marking first state title in program history
BRIDGEWATER - June 17 - The Bridgewater Town Council recognized the TJ Squared robotics team with a proclamation Tuesday night, celebrating their achievement as the 2025 Massachusetts State Robotics Champions.
Team 88, representing Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, earned the historic victory on May 31 at the Massachusetts State Championship in North Andover. The team entered as captains of Alliance 2 and emerged victorious after what the proclamation described as a "commanding playoff performance."
"This was the first state championship, if I understand correctly," said Council President Johnny Loreti during the ceremony. "Please defend it next year."
The proclamation, read into the record by Loreti, detailed the team's successful 2025 season, which included finalist placements at the University of Rhode Island and Worcester Polytechnic Institute district events. The team also received a Team Spirit Award at WPI and advanced to both the New England District Championship and the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas.
TJ Squared participates in the internationally recognized FIRST Robotics program, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. The proclamation noted that team members, mentors and coaches "have brought honor to Bridgewater through their technical expertise, leadership and commitment to excellence."
The council formally commended the team for their "historic victory" and expressed "profound appreciation for their contributions to the Bridgewater community and to the advancement of STEM education."
Team members attended the meeting to receive the recognition, posing for photos with council members following the proclamation reading.
Several councilors offered personal congratulations during their closing comments. Councilor Kevin Perry said he wanted to "congratulate TJ Squared for their success and hopefully continued success."
Councilor Sonya Striggles praised the team's achievement, saying it demonstrated "why investing in our students and investing in our children is paramount and their futures are our future."
Councilor Marillee Hunt shared a personal connection to the program, noting that two of her daughters had participated on the team. "Ironically, we have four kids. When they went to Bridgewater-Raynham Regional Schools, our two sons missed out on it. They were there too early," Hunt said. "The oldest of our two daughters was one of the first three girls to be on the team."
Hunt added that her oldest daughter was "the first one as a sophomore" to join the team, while her second daughter also participated. "So we have a big heart for the TJ Squared team. They're really wonderful," she said.
The proclamation recognized the "tireless dedication, countless hours and collaborative spirit" that contributed to the championship season. It formally resolved that the council "does hereby congratulate and commend TJ Squared Team 88 for their historic victory as the 2025 Massachusetts State Robotics Champions."
The document was signed and sealed by the town council on June 17, 2025, creating an official record of the team's achievement.
The FIRST Robotics program, which TJ Squared participates in, is designed to inspire young people's interest in science and technology through hands-on engineering challenges. Teams design, build and program robots to compete in annual competitions that combine the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology.
The team's success represents months of preparation, with students working alongside adult mentors to develop both technical skills and leadership abilities. The program emphasizes not only engineering excellence but also teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills.
The Massachusetts State Championship victory caps a competitive season that saw TJ Squared advance through multiple levels of competition. District events serve as qualifying tournaments for the state championship, with only top-performing teams earning advancement opportunities.
The team's advancement to the FIRST World Championship in Houston represents one of the highest levels of achievement in high school robotics competition, bringing together top teams from around the globe.
During the meeting, Hunt noted that the team's shirts were "all made by Jack Phaneuff," highlighting local community support for the program.
The proclamation emphasized the team's role as "role models for youth in our community interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," underscoring the broader educational impact of their success.
The formal recognition by the town council provides official acknowledgment of the team's achievement and its significance to the Bridgewater community. The proclamation will become part of the town's permanent records, documenting this milestone in the school district's robotics program history.
The team's championship victory and subsequent recognition demonstrate the strength of STEM education programs in the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District and the community's commitment to supporting student achievement in technical fields.
The recognition comes as part of the council's regular practice of honoring significant accomplishments by Bridgewater residents and organizations. The same meeting included proclamations for retiring firefighter paramedic James "Jimmy" Beatty and outgoing interim town manager Blythe Robinson.
Watch the complete meeting courtesy of the Town of Bridgewater.
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