East Tech places 9th in U.S. FIRST competition

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Yet, the 25 Scarabs turned the table, at the 5th Annual event, as they unfolded their engineering talents through the ingeniously created robot, Scarabian Knight.

Not placing last year, the team was ninth out of 75 teams both nationally and internationally this year. "The year's competition was the best out of the three years," said Gary Crawford, NASA.

This phenomenal competition began with 100 preliminary seeding matches, where NASA & East Tech were seeded in the 24th match. "We prepared a year ago and we're ready," says Jerry Seppelt, program Coordinator.

Known as "Da Bomb", the team demolished their first competitors by scoring 30 points in their first match. "The East Tech, CMHA and NASA team were fantastic," said Seppelt.

The three day competition was held at the Epcot Center, American Heritage Pavilion in 90 degree weather. But the high temperature didn't hinder the Scarabs or their capabilities a bit, they advanded out of all their seeding matches into the preliminary finals.

On the second and actual day of competition hopes and spirits were even higher for the team, which included Latricia Adams, Sph.; Coleen Bochacki, Sph.; Guillermo Camargo, Sph.; Jennifer Dailey, Sph.; Brahma Denson, Fr.; Uriah Gilmore, Sph.; Cozzetta Hall, Fr.; Leah Levert, Sr.; Daniel Lloyd, Sph.; Robert Ma, Jr.; Jocelyn Manningham, Fr.; Patrick McGovern, Sph.; George McClure, Sr.; Krissy Melendez, Sph.; Tiffany Neal, Fr.; Monica Preister, Jr.; Ronnelle Roy, Fanta Salters, Sr.; Issac Scott, Matt Slater, Tamika Waller, and Damon Worley.

Each of the students stayed optimistic throughout the notoriously heated competition. "This is a very educational experience, while having fun at the same time," the students said. "This was a great way to meet new schools throughout the country."

Since February 10, more than 90 schools and enginering companies from over 20 states built "robo-gladiators" in preparation for the 1996 U.S. FIRST Competition, Hexagon Havoc.

The playing field for the competition was a carpeted, hexagon-shaped area with a central goal. Around the perimeter of the field were three stations for the team players who worked the remote controlled robots on the field to score points. There were 12 8" balls per team, which were color coded to identify team ownership. At the start of each match, all the small balls and three of the large balls were on the playing field, while the other three large balls were situated in the triangular corners of the goal.

During the matches, which lasted for two minutes, the objective for scoring points was the three robots, with the human partners, who scored points by placing the balls in the central goal. The balls were then carried, pushed or thrown in the goal by the robots. The players were not allowed on the playing field as they were seat-belted down at their stations, but they were allowed to score points by throwing ball(s) into the central goal.

The robots were designed and built from PVC pipe, aluminum, plywood, fiberglass, and structural goam. Each weighing no more than 120 pounds, batteries included.

"My major reason for starting U.S. FIRST was because I wanted to make a simple ongoing game to compete that would be exciting for boys and girls who I consider are heroes," said Kaman.

He added that he wants to show the rest of the world, who is working on supply for tennis shoes and sports heroes, that U.S. FIRST is working on the demand in technology, engineers and scientists. "I am hoping to bring billions of dollars, big foundations and coporations into the program who will support the program even more for these heroes," Kamen added.

East Tech which was the only urban school participating in the competition was also recognized as the official national team for the event. The team was interviewed via Satellite by NEWS Channel 5 from the Epcot Center an the SciFi Channel where team member Jennifer Dailey was the spokesperson. "This is a great way for kids to get excited about

On the final day of competiiton the players were "pumped up", to compete, with their 115 pound Scarabian Knight. They wore yellow ribbons in memory of Tyrone Harris, 17, a former team member who was shot and killed earlier this school year.

Going into the final rounds the team stayed optimistic, discussing tactics, and strategies they needed to use to advance to the next rounds.

Throughout the entire contest the NASA & East Tech partners wore their team T-shirts, chanted schoold songs, and had their mascot, the "Scarab Man," on hand for support. Teachers, Mary Carter, Seppelt, Jan Berlin, Engineers, Nancy Hall, Sarah Broadnax, and Al Taylor, along with the technicians and engineers were also a part of the team. "This is a great way for kids to have a lot of exposure," said Carter. "It is important that they saw teachers, students, engineers, technicians, and even parents build a bond and support."

With the support, the Scarabs advanced past three rounds before being eliminated in the fourth round. The behind the scenes, hard working engineers and technicians, who kept the robot up to running status included, Gary Crawford, Program Manager, Mike Krasowski, David Cotton, Brian Register, Sarah Broadnax, Leonard Dudzinski, Barry Wilson, Jan Berlin, and Dan Sponi. "It is very encouraging to see that we can help students learn mechanically and electrically about engineering," said Register.

Althought they did not win the overall competition they reached their goal by placing in the top 10 overall. "We showed the country that when you give Cleveland students a quality program and a chance they will rist to the top." Seppelt added, "We're proud of being in the top 10 and thank everyone for being a part of the team." Seppelt along with the students gave a special thanks to CMHA for the sponsorhip and NASA for the support.

After the competition, the students said that they were very pleased with their accomplishments but are determined to do even better for next year's competition.

The students were greeted at Hopkins Airport by their principal Terry Butler and the school band with a brief celebration and fellowship for placing in the top 10 at the U.S. FIRST Competition.