FIRST FTC Team 6996 – Oncoming Storm is a student-led robotics team based at Bay Trail Middle School in Penfield, NY. Founded in 2013, the team was created to bridge the gap between FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and FRC Team 1511 Rolling Thunder. Since then, we’ve grown into a competitive and respected team in the FIRST Tech Challenge program.

While our core team consists of middle school students, the FTC program is open through 12th grade. Once students enter high school, they can choose to remain in FTC, join FRC, or participate in both. This decision is up to each student and their family, with many opting for dual enrollment to explore different challenges and leadership opportunities.

Oncoming Storm emphasizes the full engineering design process—encouraging students to design, prototype, code, and compete while developing real-world skills in communication, project management, and teamwork. We’re about more than just building robots—we’re building confident, capable problem-solvers.

Through community outreach, mentoring, and collaboration, we uphold FIRST's values and work to inspire others in STEM. Most importantly, we create a space where students can grow, contribute, and have fun.