Circuit Breakers eighth in robotics competition

The Cheney Blackhawks and Medical Lake Circuit Breakers robotics teams competed in their first Pacific Northwest FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Stronghold competition of the season at West Valley High School, March 5.

The Circuit Breakers finished eighth out of 34 teams, won eight of their 12 qualifying matches but were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the competition. The Blackhawks were 29th and went 4-7-1 in the qualifying rounds.

For the FIRST Stronghold competition, alliances of three teams scored points by weakening their opponents' defenses as well as scoring boulders into the opposing tower and capturing it.

Medical Lake mainly focused on offense. After they passed their opponents' low bar defense, they shot boulders into the tower.

"The kids did pretty well," Bernie Polikowsky, one of the Circuit Breakers' mentors, said. "We had over 80 percent shooting average. The students are really excited about the competition this year, even the rookies."

Medical Lake made 114 goals in the competition, second behind the Walla Walla Warriors, who had 126 goals. The Circuit Breakers also won the Excellence in Engineering award.

While Medical Lake focused more on offense, Cheney had to play the role of defender in their alliances. They originally attached a part to their robot that would help it scale the opposing team's tower but turning issues forced them to focus on playing defense and preventing their opponents from scoring. At times, the Blackhawks also used their robot as a spy in the opposing courtyard to signal their opponent's intelligence activities to their teammates.

"We were good at getting in the way," Cheney's adviser Cevin Whipple said of the team's defensive strategy. "The first competition of the year is always a learning experience for us."

Garrett Pederson, one of the drivers for Cheney, said the team's robot also had problems with its coding during the competition.

"Teams from Lewis and Clark and East Valley came over and helped without us even asking them," Pederson said. "Even the Ferris team came over and offered their help. We really appreciate everyone here."

One of FIRST's mottos is "gracious professionalism." While competiveness is encouraged, if a team needs help with parts, programming or other facets of their robot during the competition, other teams will offer their assistance.

Medical Lake also received help from teams after their robot took a hit on the first day of competition.

"One of the parts on the lift mechanism needed to be replaced and we used a temporary lift mechanism but we couldn't shoot," Dennis Schweikhardt, another one of Medical Lake's mentors, said. "When the call for spare parts came over the intercom, three other teams came over and helped us."

Both Cheney and Medical Lake teams will compete at the Pacific Northwest FIRST competition at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, March 17-19.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.