On to ‘Worlds’ for Webb FIRST Robotics
Houston-bound is 1466 after Regional award; RoHAWKtics strong
After winning a Regional Engineering Inspiration Award at the FRC Magnolia Regional in early March, “this award includes an automatic berth to the world championship,” said Cathy Dowhos-O’Gorman, associate director of communications for Webb School. “Also at the Magnolia Regional, our Spartans advanced to the finals, where they captained the sixth seeded alliance and finished fifth overall.”
The team also competed in the Smoky Mountain Regional’s FIRST competition, which was Thursday through Saturday, April 3-5, in Sevierville Convention Center.
“Team 1466 also put in a strong performance, but did not advance to Saturday’s finals,” Dowhos-O’Gorman said.
RoHAWKtics 3824 success
Hardin Valley Academy’s RoHAWKtics team 3824 did make it to the Smoky Mountain Region playoffs for a short time.
“The 2025 Smoky Mountain Regional was one for the books, not only for our team, but for everyone who participated,” said Brandi Kinkead, RoHAWKtics’ lead mentor. “I have never witnessed such enthusiasm, graceful professionalism and all-around joy from 47 different teams. I’m still getting goosebumps when I think of all the excitement that filled the Convention Center that last day.
“The HVA RoHAWKtics finished 21st out of 47 teams, which put us in a great position for an alliance pick in the semifinals,” she added. “We were invited to join Alliance 8 with Team 1592 Bionic Tigers (captain) from Florida and 11708 AMP’D Robotics from Pennsylvania.
“This team fought hard and made the winners of their matches work extra hard to advance. Although we were out in our first two matches of semi-finals, Alliance 8 left it all on the field, and we couldn’t be prouder of how these teams performed. We are extremely proud of how well all of the other area teams performed, especially 3966 L&N STEM Academy (Gryphon Command). They were captains of Alliance 7, leading two other teams all the way to finals.
The finals match “is the best of three matches, and they forced all three matches, which hasn’t been common this season,” Kinkead said. “What was so amazing was what the win Gryphon Command got in Match 2, winning by one point. The convention center became unhinged, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.”
For HVA, “every season is a learning season,” she said. “We set five goals for our team this year, and we met four out of five of those — the last one was getting a ticket to Worlds.
“The greatest challenges with robotics is the technology,” Kinkead added. “... And when (it breaks), you’re a sitting duck.”
