By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
UNIVERSITY CENTER — Clarkston High School’s Team RUSH 27 Robotics team is heading to the FIRST World Championship this week with the team’s most recent title – state champions after winning the competition at Saginaw Valley University Center for the second consecutive year, April 3-5.
“They were so excited,” said Coach Kyle Hughes. “To win our division was amazing. We have always commented that our state championships have always been on ‘even’ years. This year, an odd year, we broke the curse and won a division banner. It was amazing.”
The team finished 15-4-0 in the state competition, winning the last two matches 234-232 and 230-182 with an alliance with Team 7211 from Holly and Team 3539 from Romeo.
Team RUSH has won five state championships in its 20-plus year history. Each state championship win is special and with this year’s team it was no different, she added.

“They have worked so hard,” Hughes said. “With 19 new kids on the team this year, out of 34, there was a lot of rebuilding. The new students have stepped up very strongly, and the seniors are leading and training. Hopefully this momentum will stay with the new kids for the next three years.”
Highlights during the competition included Ameera Abdalateef qualifying for the Worlds Dean’s List Award for outstanding student on a team.
“We are so proud of her,” said Hughes. “She will find out at the world championship if she is a finalist.”
AJ Edwards received a Kettering Scholarship. Hughes added another highlight happened right before they left when they found out Finn Berard would be going to Harvard on a full ride.
Team RUSH 27 received Innovation in Control Award sponsored by nVent and also eight awards from other teams which included the Best Spirit from Team 247 Da Bears from Berkley; No. 1 Oto Cat from Team 1718 The Fighting Pi from Armada; Most Energetic from Team 2054 Tech Vikes of Hopkins; the Sportsmanship – The Gemstone from Team 2832 Livonia Warriors; Cage Range from Team 3655 Tractor Technicians from Mason; Gracious Professionalism from Team 3656 Dexter Dreadbots; The AzTechie – Overall Excellence from Team 4680 AzTech Eagles from Detroit; and Just Keep Swimming – Best Team Spirit from Team 7211 Hollywood from Holly.
“Outstanding team and student awards,” Hughes said.
She added the students overcame a lot.
“Being out of school and having to still keep up their grades but mostly their own minds,” Hughes said. “They are either in the stands all day collecting data and sending strategies to the team, or they are on their feet maintaining/fixing the robot or in very intense competition. We wake up at 5 a.m., and then go to bed between 10-11 p.m., running at 100% all day. What we have to overcome is the extreme fatigue at these events, knowing we have to choose our attitude for the team. There is nothing else like it in their lives. It is so exciting, but we are so exhausted. It’s exhilarating.”
The team heads to Houston this week with a overall record 56-18-0 as they compete in the world championship from Wednesday through Saturday.
“We have been working on competition strategies and trying some new things out for the world championship,” Hughes said. “We are doing a huge check on the robot, replacing worn parts and updating our autons. We will be ready, our drivers are in a good place.”
Team RUSH 27 sends a special thank you to all sponsors especially the David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation.
“The support of this foundation truly makes a difference in the operations of our team,” Hughes shared. “Thank you also, to all of our sponsors. We are planning the annual RUSH Regatta for July 12 so we will be in touch soon for next year’s funding with our cardboard boat race on Deer Lake.”
Follow Team RUSH during the world championship at https://www.thebluealliance.com/team/27.

  FIRST in Michigan, Robotics, Team RUSH 27