By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – The Martian robotics team can rightfully say they’re among the best on the North American continent.
Goodrich and its two partner schools claimed first place among nearly 300 high schools last weekend in the largest ever For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics championship held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
‘It was fabulous,? said head coach Pat Major, who’s worked with the Martian team in his garage for several consecutive years.
Merging technology and adrenaline-pumping athletic contest, this year’s event involved nearly 7,000 students, and started in the cold winter months. The Martian team, comprised of 19 Goodrich High School students, parents, and volunteers, as well as experts from DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, and Burkland Textron of Atlas Township, sorted through a box of parts to meet the six-week challenge of designing a robot that could compete in the custom-made ‘FIRST frenzy? sporting event
A New York team, whose robot was accidentally shipped to their school instead of the Atlanta competition, was faced with the task of building another robot in just one day. They looked to the Goodrich team for help, and scored in the top third of all teams at the championship event, said Major. While filming a nearby team that CNN has followed this year, the cameras recorded footage of the Martians. Major is hopefully watching for the footage on television, he said.
In recognition of team members? helpful spirit, the Martian team was awarded an Apple iPod computer by one of the schools participating in the event, along with competition prizes.
In addition to taking first place, Goodrich won the Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship award and the Motorola Quality Award. The new trophies will likely require a place of honor in the Goodrich robotics loft, which already houses engineering coach Jay Tenbrink’s Woodie Flowers award and other awards earned in regional competitions this year.
Team member Ed Bretzloff came away with a $20,000 scholarship to Kettering University in Flint.
Catching their flight back home immediately after the competition left the team chattering excitedly on the plane, earning admiration and ‘congratulations? from fellow passengers.
‘It was really exciting,? said school adviser Clint Densham.