From Classrooms to Championships: Asheboro High School’s Drone Soccer Team Prepares Future UAS Engineers
By DRONELIFE Contributing Editor Paul Rossi
This month I had the privilege of visiting Asheboro High School in North Carolina to meet with their US Drone Soccer team, led by educator Wendy Graham and coordinated through the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department under the guidance of CTE Director Anthony Woodyard. What’s happening in this program is nothing short of transformative – for the students, the school, and the future of UAS manufacturing in the U.S.
Drone soccer is more than an emerging sport – it’s a gateway into system engineering, flight testing, and aerospace design. The students at Asheboro are building, programming, calibrating, and flying drones inside protective spheres in a competitive, team-based environment that mirrors real-world aerospace engineering challenges.
Under the leadership of Wendy Graham, students are gaining hands-on experience with drone systems and learning to problem-solve in high-pressure environments. “They’ve gone through frustrations because problems can’t be solved right away,” she shared. “But they’ve learned persistence, brainstorming, researching, and how to solve their own problems – real-world skills that will serve them for life.”
CTE Director Anthony Woodyard has played a key role in building support for the team within the school system, ensuring students have the resources and opportunity to grow their skills through meaningful competition. That effort is already producing results. Asheboro High School’s drone soccer teams recently won the First and Second Place positions at the Regional Championship and are now preparing to travel to Nationals, representing North Carolina on the national stage.
For students like Marvin Reyes and Rohan Taya, both in 9th grade, drone soccer has become a direct pipeline to aerospace and engineering ambitions. Marvin shared, “I’ve learned every component of the drone, how to build it properly, and install settings using Betaflight. I never expected to learn so much.” Rohan added, “I thought the technology would be too hard, but now I’m customizing my drone’s sensitivity settings and improving flight control.”
Jaycoll Reyes, a junior, emphasized how the experience has enhanced his leadership and communication skills. “Drone soccer has taught me a lot of aerospace terminology,” he said. “You need coordination to fly as a team, so someone has to step up.”
Asheboro’s team has not only refined their technical skills but also become ambassadors for aviation and STEM. They’ve spoken at elementary schools, board meetings, and to state officials – showing what’s possible when education, innovation, and passion align.
With strong support from leaders like Anthony Woodyard and the pioneering work of educators like Wendy Graham, Asheboro is proving that drone soccer is more than a game – it’s a training ground for the next generation of aerospace innovators.
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Paul Rossi, US Army Veteran, is the President at Nine Ten Drones, a N. C.-based drone services company, training center, and reseller. A graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School, Rossi is passionate about the aviation industry. He holds both a Private Pilot’s License w/ Instrument Rating for manned aircraft and a Part 107 Remote Pilot’s Certificate. Rossi is currently studying for his MS Space Operations from ERAU, energized to expand his reach beyond Earth’s atmosphere. You can see more videos and product information on the Nine Ten Drones YouTube channel and connect with Paul on LinkedIn.com
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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