Mentors
Faculty Sponsors
Mountain Home High School
J.R. Bergenstock
Team Role: Faculty Sponsor
Years on Team: 3
Job Title: Computer Science Programming Teacher at Mountain Home High School
Fun Fact: I was a choir director for almost 15 years before moving here to Mountain Home
Bradford Young
Years on Team: 3
Future Team Role: Faculty Sponsor
Years on Team: 3
Job Title: Computer Science Networking Teacher at Mountain Home High School
Fun Fact:College: Missouri S&T
Mentors
Kevin Beckham
Team Role: Strategy
Years on Team: 27
Job Title: Director of Operational Excellence and Strategy at Vantive Kidney Care
Fun Fact:
Jeff Clements
Team Role: Programming/Strategy
Years on Team: 15
Job Title: Engineering and Maintenance Manager at Baxter International
Fun Fact:
Austin Jones
Team Role: Strategy and Mechanical Design Mentor/Drive Coach
Years on Team: 3
FIRST Alumni: FTC 2008-2009 FRC 2010-2012
Job Title: Principal Engineer at Baxter International
Fun Fact: I met my wife while I was on Bomb Squad, we got married 4 years later, and we now have 2 kids together.
Matt Martin
Team Role: Mechanical
Years on Team: 10
Job Title: Water Operator
Fun Fact: I am 42 years old and decided to start over by adopting 2 babies.
Andy Marts
Team Role: Build
Years on Team: 29
Job Title: Retired
Fun Fact:
Jason Smith
Team Role: Programming
Years on Team: 9
Job Title: Senior Software Engineer
Fun Fact: I'm closing in on a 1000-day Duolingo streak
Paul Rather
Team Role: Mechanical
Years on Team: 2
Job Title: Maintenance Technician at Vantive Kidney Care
Fun Fact: I am an excellent bowler
Sheila Rather
Team Role: Media
Years on Team: 1
Job Title: Registered Nurse/Professor of Nursing
Fun Fact: I have an identical twin sister
Nathan Talley
Team Role: Design
Years on Team: 1
FIRST Alumni: 2019
Job Title: Project Engineer at Vantive Kidney Care
Fun Fact: I am a huge fan of literature and love collecting books. I currently own a library of around 300 books.
David Thompson
Team Role: Mechanical
Years on Team: 24
Job Title: Maintenance at Vantive Kidney Care
Fun Fact:
Derrick Williamson
Team Role: Electrical/Mechanical
Years on Team: 15
FIRST Alumni: FRC 2003-2005
Job Title: Owner of 8-Ball Amusement
Fun Fact: I'm a licensed Pyrotechnician
Captains
Mason R.
Joshua D.
Joshua D.
Team Captain
Years On Team: 3
Graduating Class: 2025
Future College: Arkansas State University
"I initially started showing up because my friends were starting to get involved and after some research, I realised that this program has helped many students to find their future careers, so I became invested in the future of the team.
Joshua D.
Joshua D.
Joshua D.
Robot Lead
Years On Team: 3
Past FIRST Experience: FTC
Graduating Class: 2025
Future College: University Of Arkansas
"I joined the team because I had spent time on a local FTC Team and loved it. I moved up to FRC with Bomb Squad and was in awe of how much bigger the game was. This is now my senior year and I have loved every minute of it."
Taya F.
Joshua D.
Dylan A.
Media Lead
Years On Team: 2
Graduating Class: 2025
Future College: University Of Arkansas
"I got interested in robotics from watching the team compete online at their competitions in 2023 and I instantly knew I wanted to get involved. Everything about the team has just been amazing to experience, and I’ve already learned so many great skills that I will carry with me after high school."
Dylan A.
Joshua D.
Dylan A.
Strategy Lead
Years On Team: 3
Graduating Class: 2026
Future Career:
"I joined the team to expand my STEM skills. In a fun, competitive experience!"
Students
Seniors
Class Of 2025
Noah D.
Years on Team: 3
Previous FIRST Experience: FLL
Future College: University Of Arkansas
"I joined Bomb Squad for two main reasons. The first reason was my interest in machines, robots, and general mechanical systems. Second was being on Pinkston Robotics, our middle school FLL team. I now even mentor the FLL team.
Drew D.
Years on Team: 2
Previous FIRST Experience: FLL
Future College:
"I was interested in media and robotics as well as I was in FLL so I joined and I've loved it ever since because it has everything that I want."
Jordan E.
Years on Team: 3
Future College: Missouri S&T
Marshall M.
Years On Team: First Year
Future College:
"I originally joined Bomb Squad due to the encouragement of people close to me, but after going to one of the events myself, I wish I had joined sooner."
Austin P.
Years On Team: 3
Future College:
"I wanted to program robots and the competitions are fun"
Dylan R.
Years On Team: First Year
Future College:
"I joined because I enjoy working on electronics. Our Faculty Sponsors are always talking about it and say that it's fun to do. And after watching the games while they were gone last year I got interested in it because I thought it looked fun and wanted to expand my knowledge and give it a try.
Malakhi R.
Years on Team: 3
Future College: Missouri S&T
"My friend told one of the mentors that we were going to be at the next meeting. I went and he didn’t show up. I have not left since.
Lincoln S.
Years On Team: 3
Future College: University of Arkansas
"I joined the team because I had some interest in engineering, and I had no idea what I wanted to do outside of high school. When I joined the team I found a bunch of good friends and a love of coding I didn't have before."
Martin S.
Years On Team: First Year
Future College:
Juniors
Class Of 2026
Hannah D.
Years on Team: 2
Previous FIRST Experience: FLL, FTC
Future Career:
"I wanted to get to know more about robotics and mechanical technologies."
Haevynne J.
Years on Team: First Year
Future Career:
"I joined the team because I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn new things. I am very happy to see where this year brings us all and i’m excited for the challenge ahead of us!"
Sophomore
Class Of 2027
Sam C.
Years on Team: 1
Previous FIRST Experience: FTC
Future Career:
"I liked the experience on the FTC and wanted to continue learning."
Trinity F.
Years on Team: 1
Previous FIRST Experience: FLL, FTC
Future Career:
"When I joined First Lego League 4.5 years ago, I had 2 Bomb Squad members as my mentors. I loved hearing their stories of the amazing things their team was doing and how much fun they had and it became my dream in Lego League to join Bomb Squad when I was old enough. It is an amazing feeling to accomplish this childhood goal and am very excited to see what this year brings."
Colin H.
Years on Team: 1
Previous FIRST Experience: FTC
Future Career:
"I joined Bomb Squad to learn about and build robots. Ever since I was young, I always knew I wanted to work in the robotics field."
Aiden O.
Add a description about this item
Samuel S.
Years on Team: First Year
Future Career:
"I have always liked building things that are a little more complicated. I also wanted to learn some personal skills that come with doing this. I love seeing something that I made work and if not, trying other things to make it work."
Drew V.
Years on Team: First Year
Future Career:
"I have always liked building things that are a little more complicated. I also wanted to learn some personal skills that come with doing this. I love seeing something that I made work and if not, trying other things to make it work."
