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Pictured are, top row from left, Brennon Gursky, Cooper Hill, Jeff Davis, and Van Hill; bottom row from left, Amber Moody and Abigail Davis
Pictured are, top row from left, Brennon Gursky, Cooper Hill, Jeff Davis, and Van Hill; bottom row from left, Amber Moody and Abigail Davis
Pictured are, top row from left, Brennon Gursky, Cooper Hill, Jeff Davis, and Van Hill; bottom row from left, Amber Moody and Abigail Davis
IRON RIVER – The members of the Iron County robotics team, The Automatons, traveled to Sault Ste. Marie to attend the FIRST Robotics District Event at LSSU. Over two days, 40 teams from all over Michigan came to LSSU to compete. The Automatons finished qualification matches with a record of 4-8 and ranked 34. Before the playoffs there is a selection process in which top ranking teams select other teams to form an alliance. The Automatons were chosen by the top alliance with partners 3655 Tractor Technicians from Mason and 4392 the Deceivers from Brimley, as well as an alternate team 3602 Robomos from Escanaba.
Throughout the weekend the Automatons learned cooperation, skill building, problem solving and overcame adversity. The teams compete against each other initially but those same teams later become partners in alliances. This promotes trust, cooperation, understanding and idea sharing. Often without realizing it the focus on cooperating to conquer a singular goal leads these students to navigate a wide range of differences and find the value in others’ ideas and experiences in order to triumph in victory.
The Automatons and the number one alliance advanced through several rounds of playoffs, including a dramatic loss when one of their partners accidentally fell over, crippling themselves, in a critical match. The alliance was able to rebound and work their way back into the finals to face the number two alliance. In the finals, it is best two out of three matches to win. The Automatons and their alliance took the first match 154-135. The opposing alliance then struck back, taking the second match 140-106. In the last and final match, the Automaton’s alliance emerged victorious with a 142 to 106 win and took home the banner as the event winners.
The Automatons are led by coach Van Hill, assistant coach Jeff Davis and Team mom Tracie Hill. The Automatons would like to thank West Iron County Schools and their sponsors for making this season a resounding success.