BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Staff Writer

Freshman Finn Berard, along with the members of Team RUSH 27 Robotics team, watched the scores go up at the FIRST Michigan State Championship at Saginaw State University on Saturday.
Next came a lot of jumping and shouting as Team RUSH 27 won the state championship.
“It took a moment to kick in,” said Berard, who is on the scouting team and also does Robot Resources, which helps other teams if they need help with their robot.
“I was a little bit of disbelief at first,” added senior John Mueller, captain of the team and controls driver. “It was a long journey to get there. Then, when the realization hit it was just excitement. It was really nice to see all the hard work we put in.”
He added for most of the team it was a good first experience since there was no state championship in 2020 and 2021.
“I know not a lot of people have been to a states competition so for this to be their first state competition along with getting the win is a huge deal,” Mueller said.
Coach Kyle Hughes said it didn’t feel real yet.
“I’m still telling myself, ‘We are state champs!’ But it doesn’t feel like it,” she said, adding the last few days have been a blur with turning around and packing for the FIRST Championship in Houston this Wednesday through Saturday.
Highlights for Hughes from the state competition includes losing the first match in both the semifinals round and the final round.

“It woke us up,” she said. “We have had such an amazing season with very few losses. Those two losses helped us to refocus and really streamline what we needed to do. The guys drove out of their minds. Then, in our third match for the championship, we won. But no, there was a field fault and we had to play it over. We just said, ‘this is the last match for sure now, just go out, have fun and drive like rock’m sock’m robots.’ It was a brutal day, but in the end the championship was ours.”
A highlight for Mueller, outside of operating the robot and playing matches, was getting to talk with their alliance partners.
“It was really fun,” he said. “All the other tournaments during the elims you don’t get a chance to bond with your alliance partners. At states, after we selected we went to our hotel. We relaxed. We had some strategy. You really got to know them.”
Berard agreed, adding he got to know a lot of people doing Robot Resources and helping people in different pits.
Team RUSH 27 also received the Quality Award, which celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication.
The judges shared, “This team’s robot is a model in its robustness of design. Through their lean development system to their on-demand additive manufacturing process, this team’s robot demonstrates world class quality and functionality. This team maneuvered both on the field and in the air with their tip notch swerve chassis and state of the art latching hangers. Congratulations, Team RUSH from Clarkston.”
“The drivers were amazing, the pit crew did a fantastic job keeping the robot ready and the scouting team delivered data that matched the results,” Hughes said. “The communication team spoke to the judges about our team and robot and that helped to receive the quality award.”
A match that sticks out for Hughes is playing against Team No. 2620.
“They played the most wicked defense on us,” she said. “We learned so much. MSC was our practice for worlds. We learned more about what we can do each match.”
Another was going against 5460 Lapeer Robotics and 3538 Robojackets because they practice at the field Team RUSH has at Clarkston High School.
“Here you are playing with your friends. Then, you are playing against your friends,” Hughes said. “In the finals, we were playing against two teams who were at our place the week before practicing to get ready for the state championship. Every year those who come and use our field are in the finals. It’s amazing to me. We are very fortunate to have the field in our room.”
As the team heads to worlds, they know they are starting over.
“I know we just finished states. Everyone is excited. Everyone is tired,” said Mueller. “Just have to keep a level head. Like Mrs. Hughes always says one ball at a time. Focus on that one match and take it from there.”
“We know what we can do,” Berard added. “Just have to keep pushing. As long as we keep doing what we do best, we will be good.”
Team RUSH 27 share thank you to the community as they head to Houston.
“Thank you for all the support you give us,” Berard said. “We do our best to give back. You can really feel the whole community cheering us on.”
Hughes added before the team got on the bus, they had dinner. Highland House donated salads, Clarkston Union donated macaroni and cheese and O’Malley’s Galley donated shredded chicken.
“We had a wonderful meal to send us off to go to worlds. We thank the community for donating the meals,” Hughes said.
She added for everyone to do a Gold Rush in Clarkston on Friday and to wear gold to show support for Team RUSH.
Take photos of you wearing gold and email them to khhughes@clarkston.k12.mi.us.
Watch for an e-blast from Clarkston Community Schools for more information and follow Team RUSH on Facebook and Twitter. Matches of the Newton Division can be found online at Twitch via twitch.tv/firstinspires_newton.

PHOTO: From left, Adam Schmitz, Kyle Hughes and John Mueller take part in the state championship event last weekend. Photo by RUSH 27 Media Team

  Team RUSH 27