Worcester Polytechnic Institute – The air pulsated with energy and excitement on the morning of Friday March 2nd as nearly fifty teams from across New England filed into the roughly three thousand seating Harrington Auditorium at WPI. It was a special sort of feeling anyone who has participated in a robotics competition will understand. It was not just the grand, overarching feelings of spectacle and excitement, but the minutia of the day. Team members rushed to and from the pits where they worked on the robot. The busy and sometimes chaotic field at the center of the auditorium, was converted from a basketball court into the stage for dozens of 3×3 challenges between alliances of robots. It was a day members of the team wouldn’t soon forget. Walking onto the campus, members of Shrewsbury’s own Team 467 hoped for a big weekend, even if it didn’t come in the way they expected.
The pace of the first day of competition started off slow, building as teams racked up not just wins but losses as well. Everyone in the auditorium was glued to their phones and the matches, watching the teams move up and down the rankings. Team 467 got off to a rough start, with only two wins during the first day of competition. However, the second day would turn the tables. The team started the off day two with win after win, garnering a much better record than the day before. Their ranking went from close to last to a height of 19 out of 41, putting them within range for being selected for the playoff rounds.
After a half a day of competition, the top eight teams picked their alliance that would accompany them to the elimination rounds. The auditorium was filled with a tense energy as teams waited, fingers crossed, hoping to hear their names called. Finally, one of the top eight teams selected Team 467 as one of their alliance partners and team members cheered.
Unfortunately, Team 467’s alliance was defeated by the number one ranked team in the quarterfinals. But, as mentors reminded team members, the night wasn’t over yet. As awards ceremony came around, it came time to present the Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award at FIRST competitions. The award is delivered to the team that has the greatest impact within their community and how they are helping to spread STEM education and principles. FIRST is focused not only on building and competing robots but on helping others for the greater good. As the announcer read off the winning team’s accomplishments they sounded familiar to our team. Sitting on the edge of our seats they heard “Congratulations … Team 467”. With the utmost excitement the team rushed down to shake hands and collect our medals, trophy and blue banner. Winning this award lets the team compete at the District Championships located in Boston on April 12th.
Overall, it was an exhilarating weekend that was a rollercoaster of emotions and action. Despite being defeated in the quarterfinals, Team 467 went home smiling because of their advancement to the District Championships.
Team 467, Shrewsbury Robotics, would like to give a big thank you to all our sponsors especially Vangy Tool Company, Inc. & Dover Motion for their continued support.