EV, WV, CV teams attend FIRST robotics competition

A trip to last weekend’s regional robotics competition ended with three Spokane Valley high school teams performing well their first time out.
East Valley, West Valley and Central Valley high school teams became the newest additions along with a veteran St. George’s team from Spokane at the FIRST Robotics Pacific Northwest Regional competition in Portland. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
FIRST grew as an idea of Segway scooter designer Dean Kamen, and now more than 1,100 teams across the nation participate in the design and building of robots within six weeks. Top regional winners move on to a national contest in Atlanta this spring.
East Valley adviser Bill Close said his group spent three intense days in Portland passing inspection, problem-solving, competing, fixing break-downs and collaborating.
“After seven tough preliminary rounds, we ended up the 12th team out of about 55 teams, and the first team from Spokane,” he said. When another team’s robot broke down, East Valley joined 24 teams in the finals. “We lost our first two matches, and our day was done. We were the second highest rookie team in the competition.”
He said the group of students represented Spokane well, and he gave kudos to the St. George’s team, which won the engineering award and a bid to go to nationals in Atlanta.
“St. George’s helped all the Spokane teams with advice and technical assistance. They helped us do some last-minute programming the day before the race. (They) exemplify gracious professionalism, the FIRST Robotics theme.”
East Valley’s team included Jacob Hensley, Chris Lancaster, Tim Lines, Chris Mendoza, August Rife, Andrew McNeil, Doug Glendenning, Mark Nickerson, Corey Farmer, Randy Pfeifer, John Walsh, Dylan Neff and Cody Parker.
Meanwhile, CVHS team’s robot qualified and placed 37th in Portland. The Central Valley team also was invited to participate in the finals. Team members that went to Portland included Pete Knowlton, Deric Freimuth, Caleb Allen, Cody Crossley, William Skladany and Erik Beck as the NASA CV Bears.
The Central Valley School District received a $6,000 grant from NASA and extra help, materials and support from Lloyd Industries to participate in this event, said adviser Kim Wellington. He was a group mentor along with CVHS teacher Alan Wardsworth.
The WVHS robotics team included Katie McLeod, Brittany Carr, Hayley Luhn, Kassie McKnight, Alexandra Deane, Tom Mott, Ryan Hamersky, Shawheen Azizi, Taylor Seville, Gavin Mitchell, Keith Whoerlin, Alex Hanson, Steve Foster, Craig Norman, Gabe Rose, Clinton Slovarp and Nathan Sheer. West Valley mentors were Eric Groshoff, teacher; Brad Liberg, teacher; Lee Norman, engineering mentor; and Ed Mitchell, software mentor.
“The team faced some adversity in the beginning of the competition with their extremely high-tech robot, but pulled together as a team and finished 20th,” said Pat Knowles, West Valley’s vocational technical director.
DI teams advance to state
A Destination Imagination creative problem solving competition was held at Centennial Middle School last Saturday.
West Valley sent 10 teams from Centennial Middle School, West Valley City School, Ness Elementary, Orchard Center Elementary, Pasadena Park Elementary, and Seth Woodard Elementary.
Two West Valley teams placed first and are eligible to attend the state competition on March 31 in Wenatchee. They are Centennial’s group in the Switching Traditions competition with members Izzy McTeer, Sammy Roderick, Haley Galik, Savannah Hurd and Desirae Kivett; and Ness’ team competing in the Car-DI-ology category, with Anthony Burkhart, Taylor Roberts, Brianna Walton, Grant Gallaher and Devin Tongson.
East Valley put in a strong showing as well, with an Improv Team from Continuous Curriculum School qualifying for the state competition. The CCS team includes Emily Sior, fourth grade; Colton Sior, first grade, Shalyn Stack, fourth grade, and Shannon Frucci, a second-grader from Skyview Elementary.
A Central Valley Able Learners group also placed high enough to go to state, but information was not available this week.
Birthday celebration
In celebration of National Read Across America Day and the birthday of children’s writer, Dr. Seuss, members of the Central Valley High School Future Business Leaders of America walked to the KinderCare on Sullivan Road and read to the preschool and kindergarten children.
Dressed in Cat in the Hat hats and one student in a Cat in the Hat costume, the high school students hoped to generate enthusiasm for reading among the younger children. The National Education Association’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program nationally on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2.
Breakfast for WV WASL testers
Next week WASL testing begins at the high schools. Writing assessments are March 13 through 15; reading assessments March 19 and 20. West Valley students taking the WASL will be provided a free breakfast on testing days.