“I am extremely proud of the personal growth of each team member – every student found their niche and came together to create an original competitive robot,” said CCHS Robotics team moderator Mr. Michael Wallace after the Dons stole the show at this year’s international robotics competition at Valley View Casino Center.

On March 6^th, Cathedral Catholic’s Robotics team found itself in a three-day affair showcasing robots from all around the world. In an unlikely turn of events following a series of technological mishaps, the Dons team emerged as the competition’s highest-ranking first year team, winning the Rookie Highest Seed Award.

Cathedral’s Robotics team attended a competition known as First Robotics Competition (FRC), where 60 teams met from across the globe including Germany, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. After placing in the eighth seed following the eleven qualification matches, the Dons team lost to a previously undefeated team from Las Vegas who currently holds the world record for most points scored in a single match.

The stakes weren’t always this high, however – Cathedral’s Robotics team was created only one year ago, when it competed in the much smaller, more localized First Tech Challenge (FTC). Since then, the team has come a long way.

“This years’ robot is about 100 pounds heavier, has more complex electrical work, and [is] programmed from scratch using JAVA ininstead of the basic program provided by [FTC],” said Mr. Wallace.  Just as the designs for the robot have changed, so, too, has its function– whereas last years’ competition focused a great deal on mobility and dexterity, this years’ stressed performance. Impressively, the new robot can catch, pass, and shoot a twenty-four inch exercise ball at a range of up to fifty feet.

The Robotics team is composed of nearly forty members who meet five days a week for around twenty to twenty-five hours each week developing and building the robot.   Mr. Wallace backed his commitment to the team with “a real passion for mechanical engineering and robotics,” he said. “I wanted to provide an opportunity for students who have the same passion to learn about engineering to get a leg up when heading to college.”

“Based on the amount of hours they put in and their commitment, I would say [the team members] have a huge passion for robotics and most have already signed up for the Introduction to STEAM class next year,” said Mr. Wallace.

In addition to Mr. Wallace’s moderator role, Mr. Meziere of Mezeire Enterprises sponsors the Robotics team and supports the Dons by sharing his knowledge and professional advice as well as providing the use of his machine shop for robot construction. Mr. Wallace explains that, unlike most of the high school robotics teams who make their robots out of pre-fabricated parts, the Dons machine and weld 80 to 90 percent of their robot from scratch.

Moderating the Dons Robotics team has been a very positive and rewarding experience for Mr. Wallace.  “My favorite part was watching them grow as a group, as leaders, and become more confident in themselves as they learn things many have never done before. I see other team mentors who do all the work and let the students only watch, but I believe this program is for the students not the mentor and that pass or fail, they will learn more if they do it themselves.”