Pictured from left, front/seated: Owen Buckingham, Jason Martino, Yo Khwar, and Mike Bush. Middle: Pam Archer, Matt Milone, Thihaw Lwin, John Fava, and Gwynnie LaMarche. Back: Moe Zae, Zach Goldsmith, Mike Betro, Dave Nopany, Jeni Yager and Robyn Christoferson.
(Mohawk Valley, NY – Jan. 21, 2013) Three local high school level robotics teams are travelling to Pace University’s White Plains Campus for the 2013 Hudson Valley FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Championship on Jan. 27.
The Raiders #6202, the Sonic Superheroes #6347, and the RoboSpartans #4082 will represent CNYFIRST and the Central New York FTC Team Consortium, competing in a field of 36 regional teams.
The Hudson Valley FTC Region covers the Hudson Valley, the Mohawk Valley/Central New York and Southern Tier of New York State. Teams will compete in a minimum of 5 robot matches, submit engineering notebooks, and meet with technical judges to discuss this season’s robot build and community outreach efforts.
Eleven regional trophies are awarded in categories ranging from technical innovation to team motivation. Top teams will qualify to move on to the World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, April 24 to 27.
The Raiders #6202 is comprised of 5 teammates from TR Proctor High School in Utica. The team, sponsored by Mohawk Valley Community College’s (MVCC) Science Technology Entry Program (STEP), has members hailing from Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States. Team members are Thihaw Lwin, Moe Zae, Pam Archer, Yo Khwar and Bob Willie Kweh. The Raiders are coached by Danielle Ingber and Christy Stephenson from MVCC’s STEP Program.
The Sonic Superheroes #6347 is a rookie team with 9 team members, most of whom were on FIRST LEGO League teams that competed at SUNYIT. Maddie and Gwynnie LaMarche are homeschooled, Jeni Yager, Robyn Christoferson and Matt Milone attend Holland Patent Central School, John Fava and Mike Bush go to Whitesboro, Maegan Fish attends Oriskany and Owen Buckingham is from Sauquoit Central School. The team is coached by Terry LaMarche of New Hartford, NY. The team is sponsored by BP America, HiTechnic & Bagel Grove.
The RoboSpartans #4082 are a third season, basement-based, FTC team with 7 team members from 3 school districts. The team includes: Michael Betro and Maysara Elazzazi from New Hartford High School, Ryan Payne, Alex Catera and Dave Nopany from Perry Junior High, Zachary Goldsmith from Frankfort-Schuyler High School and Jason Martino from JFK Middle School in Utica. The team coaches are Bob and Lisa Payne of New Hartford.
On Nov. 30, 2012 the RoboSpartans #4082 were honored with the Northern New York FTC Inspire Award at Clarkson University’s regional championship. As winner of the award, they are one of 128 teams who will represent this season’s 2,500 FTC teams from around the globe. FIRST Tech Challenge teams can compete in up to 3 Championship events each season.
For more information on FIRST Tech Challenge robotics in our area, contact the Central New York FTC Teams Consortium by email at: CNYFTC@gmail.com or visit their website at: http://sites.google.com/site/cnyftcconsortium/