Aces High Scores at FIRST Competition

Aces High Robotics team, high school co-op team of Suffield and Windsor Locks students, continued their win streak at Wilby High School in Waterbury. Since 2019, Aces High has been a force to reckon with. Once again the team endured stiff competition from teams throughout the area but was able to maintain a successful scoring strategy that earned the team the 16 -4-0 record.

During qualifying matches the robot sustained damage that required multiple repairs. A bent frame from a significant impact with another robot was the first of the many repairs that needed to be made. But the students were not to be swayed, they took every possible moment between matches to repair and replace parts as needed. Each match was grueling, some matches had only a 1 or 2 point spread, and the team was constantly on their toes.

After finishing in the number 1 spot for alliance choices, Aces High had big decisions to make. Each Alliance captain must choose two teams to compete with for the semi-finals. If the alliance wins the semi-finals, they move up together to the final matches. The choice for alliance teams can be difficult because during qualification matches, these teams compete against each other, as well as cooperate with each other. It is important to find teams that complement each other. Aces quickly asked Team 230, Gaelhawks, out of Shelton High School to become their first partner. Luckily Team 230 graciously accepted. Aces now had to wait for teams that were in 2nd through 8th slots to make their first pick and their 2nd pick. Finally, Aces was able to make their 3rd pick and chose Rosie Robotics, team 839 from Agawam, MA. What a great alliance they made.

The 3 team alliance won their first semi-final match 89 - 30. They were off to a great start. Luck wasn't with the team, however, and they suffered a devastating lost during their 2nd semi final match by 5 points. The alliance then had to move into the lower bracket and fight their way up. This meant that they would have to play extra semi-final matches. With unbroken determination, they did just that. They won 3 more semi-final matches and reseated themselves for the finals.

The finals is a best out of 3 match playoff. The team lost their first finals match by only 3 points. They were greatly disappointed and their resolve intensified. Focusing on only game play, the alliance was able to win the final two matches by large margins, and once again secured the blue banner for the weekend.

Aces students were awarded the Excellence in Engineering Award because of their ability to specifically solve an engineering problem that occurred on the robot as well as for the ability to describe the engineering process they went through. Students can trace elements of the designs of the robot from conception and they created an elegant design that was advantageous on the playing field.