Robotics Team Qualifies For World Championships

One of three Murrieta Valley High School robotics teams recently took first place at a Southern California competition.

The hard work of Team 569, which entailed designing, building and operating a robot, paid off Nov. 19 in Granada Hills. A total of 39 teams competed. The win qualifies the team for the VEX Robotics World Championships in April at the Anaheim Convention Center.

This year the challenge is to use their robots to get as many of a team's color barrels and balls into goals of differing heights set up within a 12 foot by 12 foot playing field, according to Kevin Bradley, Robotics Club adviser at Murrieta Valley.

Team 569, which consists of students Vinayak Pillai, Jordan Niell, Erik Ruiz, Kevin Cruz, Harrison Chea, Matthew DeNava, Grady Quinn, Eric Jimenez, Roger Scherer, Jordan Petersen, Vishakh Pillai and John Dempsey, had a rough morning trying to overcome many technical difficulties.

"...But once they got their robot on the field it was dominant," said Bradley, in a news release Monday.

"During the playoffs they were part of the No. 1-seeded alliance and went undefeated through the playoffs to win the first tournament of the year."

Team 569 also took second place in the Robot Skills challenge. 

"Their performance was inspirational especially after watching them overcome so much adversity in the morning qualifying rounds," Bradley said.

The two other Murrieta Valley teams also competed strong.

Team 569 B consists of students Serenity Waits, Taj Bryan, Bryce Longacre, Michael Berna, Jon Johnson, Vana Doakes, Zack Bowman, Mason Coram, Michael Riewer, Alex Block, Everett Allen and Rebekah Butler.

"Team 569 B had an extremely effective robot and were able to score very quickly easily," Bradley said. "They fought hard all day and made it to the playoffs, but were knocked out in the semifinals."

Team 569 C consists of Devin Catron, Devin Bailey, Jenna Patton, Peter Cerbu, Ryan Cadiz, Ryan Berger, Dylan DaPra, Alex Kelly and Mistilyn VanBebber.

"Team 569 C had a very impressive robot but struggled with various difficulties throughout the day," Bradley said. "Unfortunately they did not make the playoffs, but can take away many positives from the experience. 

"For our first tournament of the year and with many new faces, this...was most certainly a success."

The students are working hard to prepare their robots for the next tournament set for Dec. 10 in Poway, when they will have another chance to qualify for the World Championships.

Check out the Nighthawk Robotics Club on Facebook.