Health & Fitness
District 214's WildStang Robotics Team Victorious in Wisconsin Regional
In its first competition of the year, the WildStang Robotics Team, comprised of 59 students
In its first competition of the year, the WildStang Robotics Team, comprised of 59 students from Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, and Prospect High Schools, won the Wisconsin Regional of the FIRST Robotics Competition the weekend of March 21-23, in Milwaukee, Wis. The team was partnered with two other teams in the elimination rounds, the Hilltoppers of Milwaukee, and Gear it Forward from Oswego, Ill.
Fifty-seven teams participated in the competition. This year's game, "Ultimate Ascent," consisted of a three-on-three event of robots shooting frisbees into goals during a two-minute and 15-second match. The higher the goal in which the disc is scored, the more points the alliance received. The match ended with robots attempting to climb up pyramids located near the middle of the field. Each robot earned points based upon how high it climbed.
Working with engineering mentors, teachers, and parents, the students had six weeks to design and build their robot for competition. Long-time sponsor, Motorola Solutions, provided space at their Schaumburg headquarters to build and practice with the robot. Over the last several years, additional local sponsors such as Numerical Precision in Wheeling, Palatine Welding and Methode Electronics, Inc. in Rolling Meadows, and Nu-Way Industries in Des Plaines have helped the team.
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According to Wildstang Robotics Team learder Mark Koch, "The seniors on the team are an especially strong group this year. In seven regional competitions over their four years, the students have garnered five regional victories and two 2nd place finishes. The students were also a part of the 2011 World Championship Team and a robotics demonstration in Washington, D.C."
On April 4-6, the team will participate in the Midwest Regional held at the UIC Pavilion. The Championship will take place in St. Louis, Mo., April 24-27. Admission to the competitions is free. For more information about either event visit www.usfirst.org>.
