ISD’S FBI Heading to World Robotics Championship

Posted March 16, 2015

robot 2For the second consecutive year, the FIRST Bots of Independence (FBI) robotics team won the Greater Kansas City Regional Tournament, earning FBI a spot in the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship in St. Louis April 22-25. Joining forces with teams from Blue Springs and Olathe Northwest High School to form the winning alliance, FBI joins 400 other teams from around the globe for the four day event.

“The team is proud to represent the ISD and the city of Independence on an international stage,” said Russell Clothier, Truman High School science teacher and one of the FBI coaches.

Using their guillotine-resembling robot named Marie (their practice bot is named Antoinette), FBI built a robot well-suited to the recycling-themed competition. Teams scored points by stacking recycling crates, then earned triple points by placing a plastic trash barrel (recycling container) on top of the crates. Clothier said FBI and their alliance partners came up with a strong, cooperative strategy utilizing each team’s strength. “The other two teams stacked the crates and FBI placed the barrels on top,” he said. “We specialized in ‘barreling.’” Led by the FBI’s David Bogue, the alliance also earned points by tossing ‘litter’ (Styrofoam pool noodles) across the playing field.

More than 50 teams participated in the regional and FBI was the only repeat champion, keeping alive a 10 year streak of having at least one team repeat as Greater Kansas City Regional Champion. “We’ll try to extend that streak next year,” Clothier exclaimed. Up next for the FBI is the Colorado Regional March 25-28 before traveling across the state for the world championship.

Members of the 2015 FBI Robotics Team are:

William Chrisman: David Bogue, Ian Coburn, Aimee Dietker, Alisha Diman, Michaela Ebert, William Elliott, Nichole Ginnings, Rachel Ketchum, Madeliene Lyons, Ashlyn Messer, Kaitlyn Waage

Truman:   Lauren Connor, Cailyn Crowley, Shelby Fordham, Eli Freeman, Skylar Fulton, Griffen Leakey, Remy Mathena, Michael Morash, Yvette Rito, Jacqueline Stock, Stevon Sickles, Renan Troy

Van Horn:  Nathan Fikes, Destany Williamson

Coaches:  Russell Clothier, Brad Drinkwater, Jared Hook, Lisa Randolph and mentors Archie Gatrost, Nick Green, Marty Morrison, Jason Sachan, Pete Simmons, Lucy Wray, Billy Diman and Jared Fordham.