Warbots Finish Strong, Win Award At Regionals

The Madison High School Robotics team walked away with a quarterfinal appearance and a sportsmanship award last weekend at the Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

The event was the first of two regional For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) competitions the team, known as "Team 620 Warbots," participates in this month.

The team placed 16th of 45 teams overall and also earned the Gracious Professionalism Award — given to teams who show "outstanding sportsmanship and continuous Gracious Professionalism in the heat of competition both on and off the playing field" — for the second year in a row.

"The fact that our willingness and ability to help other teams is recognized by FIRST in this way is a significant honor for our team," parent leader Don May wrote in an email.

During the qualification rounds, the team posted a 5-5 record in competition, good for 16th place. They were picked up by the third place team to form an alliance in the final elimination rounds of the conference, May wrote, which were played in a "best two-out-of-three" format.

This year's game was played on a flat, 27 by 54 foot field by alliances that include three robots, according to the FIRST rules. During the two minute and 15 second matches, the robots attempt to put as many basketballs as possible through hoops, earning more points for balls that go through hoops positioned higher. At the end of the match, the robots try to balance on bridges placed in the middle of the field.

The alliance won the first match of the quarterfinal round with a score of 50-22.  But the team suffered two "heartbreaking" losses in the final two matches, losing each time by just one point.

"Everyone did a fantastic job building a great robot this year," May wrote. The team is now preparing to compete in the D.C. Regional FIRST Robotics competition, held March 29 to 31 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

To see video of the team preparing for last year's competition, click on the video file at the top right of this article.