2019-2020 COYOTE ROBOTICS IN REVIEW

The GWCS Coyote Robotics Program had a very busy 2019-2020 FIRST Tech Challenge season! It began with the Skystone Game Reveal party in September. Then, after weeks and weeks of brainstorming, building, and practicing, both of our teams, FTC 965 “League of Incompetent Gentlemen” and FTC 3749 “Good Enough” competed in qualifying tournaments in Newport News and then Charlottesville, Virginia. Come the new year we found ourselves participating in pre-states scrimmages in Haymarket and then Herndon, Virginia where we faced off against seven other teams and did quite well.

Two weeks later, both our teams, FTC 965 “League of Incompetent Gentlemen” and FTC 3749 “Good Enough” traveled to Warrenton, Virginia to participate in a Pre-States Scrimmage.  We practiced and competed against five other teams.  We had a lot of fun in between matches just driving our robots around and interacting with people at the event.

We also hosted our 8th Annual GW Community School/Coyote Robotics Pre-States scrimmage at GWCS.  We welcomed about 30 kids from five other teams, and their coaches, to three hours of learning, interacting and fun.  All the teams that came were very pleased with the opportunity to practice on our field, play in practice matches, use our shop tools and spare parts, and get valuable advice about their robots.  It is always a fun and exciting way to introduce many people in our community to GW Community School.

Finally, FTC 3749 “Good Enough” team competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge Virginia Championship at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, near Richmond.  They faced off against 57 other great teams from Virginia, other nearby states, and DC.  Eight of the participating teams earned an invitation to the World Championships in Detroit in April.  Sadly, our Team 3749 “Good Enough” was not quite that at the Virginia State Championships.  They won their first two qualifying matches with help from strong alliance partners, but lost the next three with weaker partners.  To some extent it is the luck of the draw.  Our Robot and Team performed very well but was not chosen to join an alliance for the elimination rounds.

Our goal, for the remainder of the school year, is to build an intake roller system like we saw many robots using.  To do this we will learn some 3-D design software, do some building, and learn some programming.   All are welcome!

Thanks to all the families who supported Coyote Robotics this season!

GW Community School
Coyote Robotics
Gary Lindner
Volunteer of the Year!
February 27, 2020