San Dieguito robotics team takes second at SoCal Showdown

San Dieguito Academy's robotics squad, Team Paradox 2102, finished second at the SoCal Showdown Off-Season Competition in El Segundo on Oct. 10-11.

The team was the only San Diego County entry in the field, according to a news release published by the San Diego Union-Tribune. Team Paradox posted an 8-7 record in qualifying rounds, ranked 18th and earned a playoff spot as the second pick of Alliance 3, according to The Blue Alliance, a FIRST Robotics database. The team reached the finals before being eliminated.

The SoCal Showdown was the debut for the team's new student driver, Eli. The competition game required robots to collect yellow balls on a course, bump opposing machines and shoot the balls into a hub. Team Paradox competed in an alliance with The Nerd Herd from Carson and The Robot Dolphins From Outer Space, whom the news release placed in Irvine but The Blue Alliance lists in Mission Viejo.

The team's website credited Eli with the strong showing, writing that he "truly showed his skill, making us finalists."

"Making it to the finals and competing with some of the best robotics teams in Southern California was an incredible experience for our team," said Emilie, the team's student president, in the news release.

Team Paradox is the largest club at San Dieguito Academy. The news release puts membership at more than 50 students and 25 volunteer mentors. The team's own website lists more than 70 student members. The club competes in FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) events, in which students design and build a new robot each season.

The news release says the team was founded in 2006. The Blue Alliance lists the team's rookie year as 2007. In 2026, Team Paradox compiled an overall record of 45-28 and ranked No. 21 in the FIRST California district with 212 points, according to The Blue Alliance.

The Encinitas City Council recognized Team Paradox with a proclamation at its May 27 meeting, according to the council's meeting agenda.

Team Paradox heads next to the Beach Blitz, presented by the Gene Haas Foundation, at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo. The event runs Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1, with 42 teams competing.