Robotics wins return trip to world championships

After a hard day of competition, the seven NHS seniors on the Tiger Team First Tech Challenge robotics team earned an invitation for a return trip to the US FIRST FTC World Championships in St. Louis this April.  Competing in the Northern Nevada Championships with teams from Nevada, California, and Utah, The Tiger Team lost in the championship round but where honored with the top judges award, the Inspire Award, which entitles them to the World Championships berth.

The team’s only loss in the qualifying rounds was to the eventual Winning Alliance Captain, Team Phoenxtrix, from Folsom, CA.  The loss left the NHS team in third place after the qualifying rounds but still allowed them to be one of the top four teams that captain a team in the elimination rounds.   After Newberg selected a Las Vegas, NV team named Area 52 as their alliance partner, the pair easily defeated their semifinal opponents before falling again to Phoenxtrix and another Folsom team called the Legonauts in the finals.

The team received a trophy for being the Finalist Alliance Captain and a plaque for winning the Promote Award.  The Promote Award is given to the team that is most successful in creating a compelling video message for the public designed to change our culture and celebrate science, technology, engineering and math.

All three Newberg FTC teams will participate in the Oregon FTC State Championships at South Meadows Middle School in Hillsboro on March 3rd.   The Tiger Team will not be eligible to receive the Oregon Inspire Award but will work on their robot and their game strategy to try returning to the championship round with a better result.

By Ted Krupica, Newberg Tiger Team 4586 Coach