The LigerBots, Newton’s dual-high-school robotics team, won the Silver medal at the FIRST Robotics League Greater Boston District Competition last weekend at Revere High School. With two alliance partners — the Lobstah Bots and the Crusaders — the LigerBots came from behind to win the Silver Medal and a place at the District Championships next week in West Springfield.
Last Saturday, the event started with LigerBot’s own Newton South sophomore, Juliana G., singing the national anthem in front of a packed crowd at the Revere High School gym — all 39 teams, judges, volunteers, and spectators. On Sunday, LigerBot Jeffery Lam started the day with an electric guitar rendition.
In a series of round-robin matches, 39 teams were randomly assigned to 12 different Alliances for 2½ minute games, squeezing in repairs and adjustments between matches. Crowds cheered, and judges came by to question and evaluate the team’s depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise.
After the qualifying rounds, the LigerBots were ranked 9th out of 39 teams competing. The top 8 teams won the right to pick their own Alliances for the Playoffs, and through that process the LigerBots became captain of the second-to-last ranked Alliance. As a result of late-night strategizing and planning for this very possibility, the team knew who they wanted in their Alliance — and knew they had a tough road ahead of them.
In the Playoffs, the underdog LigerBot-led Alliance won, making it to the semi-finals. They lost the next round but then won again, making it to the finals against the top-ranked Alliance. After a valiant effort, the Ligerbot Alliance lost in the finals, bringing home the Silver medal.
Next stop is the New England District Championship, April 5-8 in West Springfield. Travel and lodging expenses for the team are significant. The team is grateful for donations to support its efforts. Donations support learning — in engineering, business management, cooperation, time management, perseverance, and related skills.
