Black Hawk Robotics win Regional Competition in Waco

(ROCKWALL/HEATH, TX – April 22, 2017) The Rockwall-Heath High School robotics team, Black Hawk Robotics, recently attended the Brazos Valley Regional in Waco, Texas. At the end of the intense competition, the Black Hawks were the regional winners! This is the second Regional win of the season for the Black Hawks. Additionally, the Black Hawks have won 5 straight robotic Regionals dating back to 2015.

Over the three-day regional, the team competed with 42 other teams from around the United States. After eleven qualifying matches, the Black Hawks allied with Team 2848, All Sparks from Dallas and Team 6357, The Spring Konstant from Dripping Springs, TX. This alliance fought through elimination rounds to come out on top.

“It is really cool to win my first two regionals as driver,” said Samuel Potter. “I was very nervous about not having much experience with driving the robot, but the hard work the drive team and I do during matches pays off.”

Team 3310 overcame a couple early losses during the tournament before securing the regional victory. “We had issues with our shooter and camera during the regional,” explained Ben Selle, the pit crew captain. “But with our great alliance, and some last minute programming fixes, everything fell into place to earn our win.” Despite these problems, the Black Hawks’ robot was still the highest scoring shooter at the tournament.

The team was also honored with the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors. This award recognizes the robot that best “Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge.” Also, two Black Hawks, Madison Drake and Katie Layton, were chosen as Dean’s List Semi- Finalists. This honor recognizes “Great examples of student leaders who have led their Teams and communities to increased awareness for FIRST.”

The Black Hawk Robotics team will be competing next at the 2017 FIRST World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri on April 26-29.

“I have seen this team grow and change so much during my years on the team,” said Brian Selle, an engineering mentor for the team. “I feel that we have evolved from a group of students to a team with many subdivisions that work together and support one another to create an amazing outcome.”

Submitted press release from Black Hawk Robotics media team.

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