3115 Finds Success in Traverse City

In FIRST competition, rookies are usually applauded for their ability to get a robot on the field, their ability to pass FIRST inspection, or their fueled team spirit in the stands.  Because building any entry into FRC is a challenge in itself: a six week culmination of learning, adaptation, mistakes, and dissappointment that even decade-old teams have not yet mastered, when a rookie team comes to a competition with a working robot that scores effectively, people notice and great things happen.

This past weekend Frog Force's sister team, the Robo-Panthers from West Side Academy in Detroit competed in the Traverse City District Competition at Traverse City Central High School.  After having shaky performance in the early qualification matches as they became acclimated to the excitement of FIRST gameplay, the Robo-Panthers set off on a five match winning streak, ending the qualification rounds in ninth place.  Their success in the qualification rounds earned them the Top Rookie Seed Award, and also the opportunity to be the competition's lone rookie alliance captain.

When alliance pickings came along, 3115 was a star player in the game.  After being picked in the first round by the fourth alliance and graciously declining their offer, the Panthers lead the sixth alliance as they requested  the assistance of teams 2619 (The Charge) and 1322 (GRAYT).  The alliance battled hard in the quarterfinals, but was defeated by a strong #3 alliance.

 The Robo-Panthers' success did not stop there.  Becoming one of the few teams to win two awards, 3115 ended the day by winning the Rookie Inspiration Award, an award that recognizes a team's success in FIRST competition, rewarded each year to a team who you can't really tell is new to FIRST.  This award also earned them something Frog Force has yet to get: an automatic berth into the state competition where they will, with 65 of Michigan's top teams watching, compete to earn the first-ever Michigan Rookie Inspiration Award.

The Robo-Panthers next compete at the Detroit District Competition at Wayne State University on March 20-21 where they will attempt to continue to expand their trophy-case.  Frog Force is honored to have a strong off-the-field alliance with the Robo-Panthers and looks forward to seeing them continue to dominate in just their first year.  

The Robo-Panthers are a first-year robotics team from West Side Academy in Detroit.  They are generously sponsored by BAE Systems and Detroit Public Schools.