Technology team earns spot at Worlds

Technology team earns spot at Worlds

The Technados of Clarkston are heading to the world championships. Photo provided

The Clarkston FIRST Tech Challenge Technados robotics team and coach Patrick Zelinski earned a ticket to the upcoming FTC World Championship during the North Super Regional Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 15-17.
The Technados are Clarkston’s first FTC team to make it to the North Super Regional Championship level, and now they’re also the district’s first team ever to qualify for the FIRST FTC World Championship.
The team, made of Sashabaw Middle School and Clarkston Junior High students, formed an alliance with three teams from Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio to win their division and earn an invitation to Worlds, which will be in Detroit, April 25-28.
“We’re excited to explore uncharted waters for Clarkston FTC,” said Jacob Zelinski.
The team includes sixth graders Abigail Zelinski, Samantha Zelinski, Josie Zube; seventh graders Owen Birch, Caden Clawson, Hayden Lamrouex, Nick Traschenko Pochmara; and ninth graders Nolan Gergar, Braedan Groff, Kyle Kaufman, Gabe Puzio, and Jacob Zelinski.
Their mentors include students Jacob Draksler, sophomore; Evan Bennett, freshman; and adults Craig Birch and Mike Kaufman.
The Technados’ first competition was the Kearsley Qualifier in November, where the they received the Finalist Alliance Award as part of the second place alliance team.
Next for them was the Oxford Qualifier in December, where they received the Finalist Alliance Award, being part of the second place alliance team, won the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award, and received second place for the Controls Award.
During the state competition, the Technados edged out 96 teams to earn the Design Award, which qualified the team for one of 19 tickets to the Super Regional Event in Iowa.

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