Rockwall-Heath Robotics Wins Amarillo Regional

(ROCKWALL, TX — March 28, 2019) The Black Hawk Robotics, FRC team 3310, competed at the FIRST Amarillo District where they won their eighth straight regular season event. The team was also honored with the Autonomous Award and lead coach Leslie Reese was recognized as Woodie Flowers Award nominee for her outstanding contribution as a team mentor.

FIRST is a global organization created to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders through after school robotics programs and competitions. Each year teams design a robot that can complete a specific set of tasks. This year’s game, FIRST DESTINATION DEEP SPACE, involves building a robot that can work in a team of three to pick up ‘cargo’ balls and hatch panels and place them into a ‘cargo ship’ in the center of the field and rocket ships, which are both elevated seven feet. Teams must also climb onto a platform towards the end of the game, which is 22 inches tall.

The Amarillo District consisted of 30 teams from across Texas and New Mexico. After 12 qualification matches, the Black Hawks were ranked second with a record of 11-1. Team 3310 partnered with top seed Team 148, Robowranglers, from Greenville, Texas, and team 2657, Thundercats, from Deming New Mexico. This three team alliance went undefeated through the three elimination rounds (6 matches) to with the tournament.

“It was amazing to win another district event, especially on my senior year,” said Black Hawk team member and driver, Samuel Potter. “It was especially great to see all of the underclassmen on our team experience the vigor of winning an event and watching it spark passion for robotics.”

During the awards ceremony, Leslie Reese was recognized as Woodie Flowers Award nominee. This award recognizes mentors who do an outstanding job of motivating, communicating with, and challenging students. The team nominated Mrs. Reese to recognize her for her work and dedication with Team 3310 since its first season 10 years ago. The students on the team specifically noted that Mrs. Reese is a positive role model and that she teaches her students to “stay positive and dedicated to our goals.” The Black Hawks have grown from a team with fewer than 10 students in 2009 to one of the most successful FRC programs in the world under Mrs. Reese leadership.

Team 3310 also received the Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford. This award celebrates form and function of a team’s programmed autonomous run at the beginning of each match. The autonomous program is one of the most difficult aspects of building a successful robot and Team 3310 spent countless hours programming their robot’s autonomous and their work paid off. “We spend over 100 hours during build season programming this robot, then reprogramming during and after our competitions throughout the season,” said Josh Lewis, team 3310’s programmer. “It is an honor to have that hard work recognized and that the judges believe we fit the criteria for this award.”

Submitted press release and photo by Black Hawks Robotics.

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