Asheboro High School Unleashes Drone Soccer Revolution

The Rise of Drone Soccer: How Asheboro High School is Building a STEM Powerhouse

In a world where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, innovative programs like drone soccer are emerging to prepare the next generation for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The drone soccer team at Asheboro High School in North Carolina is one such program that has been making waves by building, programming, and flying their own drones. With a mission to develop valuable technical skills, students have also fostered teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.

The program originated when Anthony Woodyard, chief information officer for Asheboro City Schools, was looking for something hands-on, academic, and engaging for students. He researched U.S. Drone Soccer and decided to bring it to his city schools, putting them on a path that would blend engineering, aviation, teamwork, and excitement.

Drone soccer combines STEM education with the structure and energy of a team sport. Players pilot small quadcopters enclosed in protective spheres, flying them through goal rings in mid-air. The U.S. Drone Soccer Association now includes around 270 institutions nationwide, with a mission focused on pushing students toward aerospace, science, and engineering careers.

The program launched in 2023 with 12 drones and only five or six students. Today, Asheboro fields three teams made up of students from all four grade levels, competing against teams from Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As of January 2026, Asheboro sits at number 26 on the national leaderboard.

Early wins and learning moments were quick to come. In their first regional competition in Virginia, Asheboro took home first place, surprising even their own coaches. This success highlighted an important detail they had missed – the sport is coed, and competition rules require both boys and girls on the field. Instead of treating this as a problem, the team treated it like a design flaw, identifying the issue, adjusting their approach, and trying again.

To recruit more girls to join the team, Asheboro High School made a deliberate effort to host girls-only practices where students could get comfortable with the drones and controls before joining full competitions. Senior Jenny Gabriel joined during the early days of the program and quickly became one of its leaders.

The team’s balance began to shift, turning drone soccer into both a competitive team and a visible example of female representation in STEM. Through outreach and encouragement, the team has been successful in recruiting more girls, showcasing the potential for this sport to bring students together.

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 that he learned every component of the drone, how to build it properly, and install settings using Betaflight. He never expected to learn so much.

Rohan added that he thought the technology would be too hard, but now he’s customizing his drone’s sensitivity settings and improving flight control. Jaycoll Reyes, a junior, emphasized how the experience has enhanced his leadership and communication skills.

The program not only refines technical skills but also becomes 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.

Asheboro is proving that drone soccer is more than a game – it’s a training ground for the next generation of aerospace innovators. With strong support from leaders like Anthony Woodyard and educators like Wendy Graham, this program is paving the way for students to develop skills that look very good beyond the gym walls.

Drone soccer might look like a futuristic game at first glance, but programs like Asheboro’s show why it works so well. It sneaks serious skills into a format students actually care about, blending teamwork, problem-solving, and technical knowledge in a way traditional classrooms often struggle to achieve.

As the drone industry continues to grow, it’s essential that we provide students with hands-on experience and real-world applications of STEM concepts. Drone soccer is one such program that is doing just that, providing a platform for students to develop skills that will serve them for life.

The drone soccer team at Asheboro High School is an exemplary model of how innovative programs can transform education and careers. By combining engineering, aviation, teamwork, and excitement, this program is building a STEM powerhouse that will propel the next generation of aerospace innovators into the sky.