About Team 10933
The Tie Dye Samurai — where creativity meets competition
Our Story
Team 10933 is the culmination of over a decade of robotics excellence at STEM+C. Our journey began in 2015 with FIRST LEGO League, where young students discovered the joy of building and programming robots.
In 2018, we expanded to FIRST Tech Challenge (Team 14835), where we've consistently been Arizona State Championship qualifiers and reached the grand finals in 5 out of 7 seasons. That competitive spirit and technical foundation now powers our FRC program.
The 2026 season marks our rookie year in FIRST Robotics Competition — the ultimate challenge in competitive high school robotics. We're ready to bring our experience, creativity, and determination to the big stage.
Why "Tie Dye Samurai"?
Tie Dye
Represents our creative spirit, individuality, and the colorful diversity of ideas that each team member brings. No two patterns are alike — just like our innovative solutions.
Samurai
Embodies discipline, precision, and honor. Like the warriors of old, we approach every challenge with focus, respect for our competitors, and a commitment to excellence.
Our Values
Innovation
We embrace creative problem-solving and aren't afraid to try new approaches.
Gracious Professionalism
We compete with integrity, help other teams, and treat everyone with respect.
Continuous Improvement
Every prototype, every match, every season — we learn and grow stronger.
Mentorship & Safety
Our team is led by experienced mentors who guide students through the engineering process while prioritizing safety at every step. All mentors undergo background checks and training to ensure a positive, secure environment.
Students work with power tools, electronics, and industrial equipment under proper supervision. Safety glasses, proper attire, and following protocols are mandatory — no exceptions.
We believe in a student-led, mentor-guided approach: students make the decisions and do the work, while mentors provide expertise and ensure everything runs safely and smoothly.
Meet Our Mentors
Steven Klass
Lead Mentor & Founder
Engineer with 23+ years leading software and hardware teams in the semiconductor and energy industries. Founded Pivotal Energy Solutions, 7Stalks, and STEM+C. IEEE Standards Committee member. A CASA volunteer and foster parent, Steven has been leading robotics teams for over a decade.
David Koontz
Software Engineering
Software development leader at Avetta with an entrepreneurial mindset. Published speaker at RubyConf and former Code.org volunteer facilitator. UAT grad with expertise in software architecture and game development. David mentors students in programming and problem-solving.
Andrew Riesgraf
Mechanical Engineering
Licensed Professional Engineer with 28+ years at Intel. Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) specializing in mechanical design, sheet metal, and weldments. NMSU grad. Andrew brings deep manufacturing experience and helps students master CAD and fabrication.
Robert Heaton
Business Operations
Business transformation expert and COO at Leader Legion. 10+ years aligning people, process, and systems across nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. Founded Heaton Consulting. Robert helps students develop strategic thinking and project management skills.
Part of Something Bigger
Team 10933 is a program of STEM+C, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been inspiring students through competitive robotics since 2014.
Learn About STEM+C