The Oak Ridge High School Robotics Team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265, competed at the FIRST Robotics Smoky Mountain Regional March 23-25 with 47 other teams at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
After 10 qualification matches, they ranked third with a record of 7-2-1. As the third-seated alliance captain, they chose to ally with Category 5 Team 3489, from Charleston, South Carolina, and Sigmac@t Robotics Team 108, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Together, this three-team alliance moved through the eliminations, earning the top three total match scores for the entire competition. These scores were: 445, 450, 455. In the finals, they succumbed to the impressive defensive measures of the sixth-seated alliance comprised of Delphi E.L.I.T.E. Team 48 from Warren, Ohio; Flagship Team 3140 from Farragut High School; and Shark Attack Team 744 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In addition to being named the captain of the finalist team, the Secret City Wildbots Team 4265 won the Engineering Inspiration Award sponsored by NASA and an invitation to the National Championships in Houston, Texas, with the $5,000 entry fee being paid for by NASA. This is the second time the team has won this prestigious award, a press release said.
“Team members are excited to continue their ‘passionate pursuit for perfection’ in three weeks in Houston,” the press release said.
The press release said the Secret City Wildbots would like to thank the following people and organizations for their support this year:
- Diamond Sponsors: Bechtel, UT Battelle, CNS Y-12, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, and Oak Ridge Schools.
- Platinum Machining Sponsors: Baird and Wilson, Oak Ridge Tool and Engineering, Arc Engineering, RT Coatings, ARMEC, AXIS, and Technical Machining.
- Gold Sponsors: Centrus, ESG, Inc, SAIC, Navarro, TVA, UCOR, and Alcoa.
- Silver Sponsors: ORAU, UCOR, Fox Brothers Ace Hardware, Alcoa, Novacopy, Fastenal, and the ORHS Roborage Champs.
- Bronze Sponsors: Ashley Parks, Bob and Jean Eby, and DeRoyal Industries.
“Thank you for your continued support for robotics and engineering at ORHS!” the press release said.
Article submitted by: Lisa Buckner
Photos submitted by: Angi Agle
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