The State Championship for the FIRST Tech Challenge in robotics took place at the Cobb Civic Center this past weekend, with a field of 48 teams that had advanced to this event after exceptional performance in prior league tournaments. Saturday was a history-making day for the Eagle Robotics program, as two teams representing Mount Paran Christian School took home awards.
Team 11364 Diamond Plate competed in a field of 24 teams within the Pemberton Division. They survived the seeding rounds and were chosen as the first pick for the first seed alliance. Diamond Plate won the semifinals of the division but were defeated in the Pemberton Division Finals, meaning that rookie Team 11364 concludes their season as State Championship Semifinalists. Team members are Emma Bethel, Sam Haygood, Luke Lumpkin, and Tyler Mateychak.
Team 7373 Carbon Fiber spent their season focused on a return trip to the World Championships. Team 7373 proceeded to cut through the Kilrain Division with precision, ending the seeding rounds 6-0 and winning the top seed for the semifinals.
Carbon Fiber put on a display of mastery of understanding the game, wisdom in alliance partner selection, use of time-outs and the clock, and engineering prowess in these critical matches, including rebuilding and reprogramming an essential component in approximately ten minutes. For the first time in the history of the MPC Eagle Robotics program, Team 7373 was crowned robot champion, cementing their advancement to the World Championships in Houston, Tex. Team 7373 Carbon Fiber now leads a contingent of six other Georgia teams that advance to the World Championships April 15-18.
Team 7373 also left the tournament having won the First Place Inspire Award, which honors the greatest team in Georgia in every measurable category. Double-state champion team members from Team 7373 Carbon Fiber are Stephen Baker, Mitchell Bunn, Aidan Hanson, Tade Idowu, Jacob Kessock, Sarah McCune, Kristy Moss, Ben Mueller, Luke Spinetto, Grant Terry, and Eric Torp.
ABOUT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Mount Paran Christian School, the largest private Christian school in Cobb County, is a non-denominational, college-preparatory school for students in preschool age three through grade 12. MPCS is committed to excellence in academics, award-winning arts, and championship athletics, all within a Christian environment with small class sizes. Founded in 1976, MPCS is fully accredited (SAIS/AdvancED) and located near Kennesaw Mountain on a 68-acre collegiate-like campus. Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, MPCS unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in Truth.
