The Knights Engineering Robotics Team (17657 in FIRST Tech Challenge) recently competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge League Championships at Highland Park High School.
“I’m really proud of our students for sticking together and putting their engineering might out on the floor,” said Mr. John Rossi, physical sciences teacher and engineering club moderator. “There were many teams who began in the same position as us as a rookie competitor, but did not finish the season with an entry in the league championship. Our young men and women are resilient.”
Carlos Bindert provides the following play-by-play via Twitter.
First up, today's schedule:
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
Our judging appointment is from 8:00-8:20, so that's when we'll present our robot (and accompying documentation of our season called "The Notebook" to a team of panelists and answer questions. 🤞 pic.twitter.com/7Fwi2JtZi5
7:30 - Checked in at Highland Park, unpacking now pic.twitter.com/Zsxeyrrim8
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
8:20 - the team presented to a panel of judges and is now back test driving the robot. pic.twitter.com/TlP6x85rEC
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
9:30 - team is ready for robot inspection! pic.twitter.com/4U2OF9pUBo
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
10:30 - Drivers, Referres and Captains (that's me!) all attend a "Driver's Meeting" where specific rules were reinforced and schedules were handed out. Each team competes in 6 qualification matches, with 33 in total. All teams passed inspection! pic.twitter.com/7gjSPoHsiy
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
Matches 1-3 were all losses:
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
Q1: 32-41
Q2: 31-94
Q3: 27-31 pic.twitter.com/P01cRITuK9
12:00 - We break for lunch, and Vernon tries to break for the rest of the competition. After some discussion, we decide to change our strategy a bit for the second half. pic.twitter.com/YaoyjW8dn8
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
1:00 - Our new strategy paid off with a MASSIVE victory in Match 4, with a final score of 88-19! Attached is Patrick Tomasiak stealing a block from the other team. pic.twitter.com/DypXAYYUZH
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
1:45 - We thought the team won match 5 in raw points scored, but due to a penalty (crossing line with too many blocks) the other team ended up winning. pic.twitter.com/VxnTNs2WYG
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 9, 2020
2:15- our last match of the day, and we won! It was close, but a great parking job by soph. Natasha DeRose secured extra points in the final seconds! Shoutout to @JPaolelli_ICCP for coming to help as a volunteer for the second half of the day. pic.twitter.com/T1kFgZgieh
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 10, 2020
4:00 - The matches had wrapped up, and while waiting for awards the team (and Liam) took a break to do some dancing! pic.twitter.com/EWaUrGoJmM
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 10, 2020
We ended up winning the “Outstanding Rookie Award”! A great way to cap off a great day. 🏆👍 pic.twitter.com/kXbTg4AF0n
— Carlos Bindert (@CarlosBindert) February 10, 2020
Posts from the Engineering Instagram’s account also showcases the smiling faces and big minds of IC Catholic Prep students.