What an amazing day we had last Saturday!
Our story begins many months ago...way back when it was warm outside. We received an email inviting anyone who had an interest in being on a robotics team to reply to the email. The family beginning this venture was a homeschool family that we had met through soccer several years ago.
Knowing that this was something that was "right down William's alley"...and knowing that we had been praying to find something that was "right down William's alley," we responded to the email. We were then invited to an informational meeting...then a "level of interest" meeting...and then William was invited to join this team of 10 young homeschool men. They would be participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge, or FTC.
We were able to meet the team and their families at the end of the summer at a cook-out that the coach and his wife hosted. It was at this meeting that team voted on and chose their team name and colors. It was also at this meeting that the team bonding began.
On a Saturday in September, the competition theme and rules were announced via internet. I remember sitting with William at the computer watching the announcement. I remember asking him if any of that made any sense to him and if he could picture how something like that could be accomplished.
He looked at me and said, "Oh, yes!"
What a blessing this team has been! William has found something that he has an interest in and truly loves.
For several months now, the Mechahampsters, have been meeting at the coach's house one afternoon a week...and more recently, twice a week.
Last week, the boys put in lots of extra hours to make sure that their robot was ready for their first competition in Chicago.
We left on Friday afternoon so that we would be ready for the bright-and-early 8:00 AM arrival time at the Illinois Institute of Technology! What a gracious host IIT was. How prepared and how organized! The excitement of the day was contagious!
Here is one of the first things that we saw when we arrived.
There were two playing fields and a large screen set up in the auditorium.
If you have visited William's blog, you will notice that last week, the coach had a playing field set up in his garage so that the boys could practice. He already knew the dimensions of the playing field because they had been announced earlier.
The entire FIRST organization is extremely professional and well-organized. You can see that by visiting their website.
Here are the boys doing some tweaking on their robot before the qualifying began.
The boys' coach has been a mentor for his oldest son's robotics team for several years now. The team that he has worked with is a high school team that builds the big robots involved with the FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition). What a wealth of information he has had in protocol...and the background experience to set the boys at ease.
The coach told the boys that they should go around and visit the 25 other teams that were there to compete, asking them questions about their robot...all the while, practicing Gracious Professionalism.
Here are William and his teammates talking with another team.
More tweaking...
And the awesome Mechahampster team shirts that one of the dads had made!
Look at that logo! Carrie and I think that our team had the absolute best logo and color scheme!
And yes, still MORE tweaking!
I think the tweaking was an ongoing thing throughout the day for all of the teams.
You learn a lot about your robot by spending time with it.
Here is the playing field all set up for another two-and-a-half minute match.
And here is the drive team waiting for their turn to compete.
Let the competition begin!
See the pretty girl in the lower right of the screen? The one holding up the camera? That's Carrie. One of the neatest things that I have witnessed since William began robotics and Carrie began basketball is seeing that they are each others' biggest fans.
This is the event's MC. What a great job he did keeping the excitement going all day long! He also did a great job of explaining exactly what was going on during each match. We learned a whole lot about the game through him!
Twenty-six teams.
Thirty-nine qualification rounds.
The Mechahampsters placed SEVENTH!!
Next, the top four teams chose their alliances. The second place team chose the Mechahampsters!
Let the "strategizing" begin!
The Mechahampsters and their alliance teams placed second! What an amazing accomplishment for a brand-new...and young...team!
Proud Sister!
Here is the Awards Ceremony.
The Mechahampsters are shaking hands with each of the judges.
Way to go, boys!!
William is going to be posting a video from the competition on his Mechahampsters blog. He will also be posting throughout the rest of the season if you want to check in with him and the team.
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