Robotics teams duke it out at state competition

From the County Press
Teens from the Lapeer area got to mix it up with the big time last weekend, when the country’s most competitive statewide FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics effort held its competition at Eastern Michigan University.

Lapeer County was well-represented with not one, but two, teams at the state competition. Kids from Lapeer East and West High Schools went as members of the Chimeras team, coached by Tony Diodato. Students from Lapeer County Education and Technology Center formed Galak Tech 3535, coached by Jeff Beatley.

It was the first time for either local team to compete at the state level, and Galak Tech’s rookie year as a team.

The Lapeer area teams held their own in the intense competition.

“Both the Chimeras and Galak Tech battled valiantly in their 12 matches sometimes with and sometimes against the powerhouse teams. The 68 teams are randomly mixed in 3 on 3 matches over the 3 day competition,” said Diodato.

Team Galak Tech picked up 79 points overall, placing 56th, and the Chimeras scored 67, placing 62nd.

“There is no doubt that Michigan is the epicenter of high school and professional robotics in the country,” said Diodato. “In no other concurrent regional event in the country could you score 110 points and still lose the match.” He points out that typical scores outside of Michigan are in the 30s.

“The students were very pleased in that they and the robot had done everything possible to win,” said Diodato of the Chimeras.

Although the hometown teams gave it their all and made an impressive showing, the St. Louis national competition remained out of reach this year. A very supportive Grand Blanc team, the Enginerds, placed 11th in the event, racking up the highest score at the state tournament. They’re among the teams headed to the nationals, as are students from Goodrich High School.


The state competitions mark the end of a frenzied season of non-stop thinking and doing that launched in January for the robotics team members.

“Our season has ended but we are ecstatic about our growth and success this year,” said Diodato. “None of it would be possible without the support of the schools, the community, the parents, local business and our generous sponsors.”

Diodato said there are some off-season events in coming months, and that the teams will be launching their fundraising for the next competition right away “in hopes of having the resources to be one of the power-house teams who make it all the way!”

The state competition finals will be broadcast on television on April 16 at 1 p.m. on ABC.

Robotics team snares a silver medal

Excerpted from The County Press
The combined Lapeer East and Lapeer West robotics team earned a silver medal as second place district finalists in the March 4-5 FIRST district competition at Kettering University in Flint.

The combined Lapeer East and Lapeer West team, named “The Chimeras” snagged the silver medal as second place district finalists. The Lapeer County Education and Technology Center’s rookie team, GalakTech 3535, battled their way successfully to the semi-final round of the competition, making its mark as a serious contender.

“It was our first competition we ever made it that far,” said Chimeras team mentor Jon Uren of their second place prize. “It was really cool ... to walk out there and get that award.”

Uren confirmed that impressive performance, saying, “They did phenomenal ... They just excelled beyond belief.”

The scene at Kettering University’s field house was chaotic and spirited as 38 teams of teens, their mentors and their robots filled the pit areas. The teams spent the last six weeks designing and building robots that could tote inflatables and place them on pegs high up in the air. They also built mini-bots that could race up a pole.
Team spirit was evident everywhere. The Chimeras wore matching team shirts and sported black and white face paint. The Lapeer West Panther was spotted roaming the stands as well.

Team members were in a constant state of motion as they tweaked their robots in the pits before delivering them to the field of play. Rock music pulsed through building adding to the intense atmosphere. As they took their entries to compete, shouts of “Robot! Robot!” could be heard above the din so people could make way in the crowded pit area.

For each match, robots were placed into competition with robot operators lined up at each end of the field behind a plexiglass wall. The robots then battled it out, placing the inflatables on pegs to form the FIRST logo.

There was no shortage of team spirit as kids, parents and mentors cheered, jumping and up and down, noisily rooting for their robots during the matches. Post-event interviews made it apparent that two days of yelling took its toll.

The Chimeras are barely taking a breath as they prepare to compete again at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor Mar. 25-26 in another district competition, as they vie for a spot in the state and national championships. They are tweaking and upgrading their ‘bots.

“The kids are extremely excited. They really want first. They’re putting all their effort into it. They’re pumped,” said Uren. “We have a good robot with a good strategy. We’re pretty dangerous.” He said he thinks The Chimeras have a good shot at the nationals this year.

The Juggernauts of Pontiac, Killer Bees from Auburn Hills and T.O.R.C. from Oxford won the district competition. Metal & Soul of Capac won the Chairman’s Award, qualifying the team for state finals. Along with The Chimeras, the Martians of Goodrich and the Dragons of Swartz Creek earned silver medals as second place district finalists.

Photos by Nancy Elliott
Photo caption
Chimeras coach Tony Diodato and team members from Lapeer East and Lapeer West tweak their robot during pit time.

High School Robotics teams compete at Kettering, Lapeer East moves on to Ann Arbor

In an atmosphere not unlike a major high school sporting contest, the Lapeer East High School Robotics teams competed at the FIRST Robotics competition at Kettering University this past weekend.

The 22-member Lapeer East Robotics team, led by teacher and advisor George Mavis, placed 14th out of 40 teams after the two-day event. The East team will now take its robot to Ann Arbor this weekend for another meet.

Sponsored by CCS Robotics on Imlay City Road and PNC Bank, the East robot played soccer, scoring points by robotically kicking a ball into a goal and scored bonus points by successfully hanging the robot from a metal stand, one of the few teams to do so.

“This is a great experience for our robotics club members,” said Principal Kelly Paige. “It is great to see 22 students who are ‘geeked’ about math and science and a bleacher full of supportive adults, friends and family watching as referees, a timer and the competition unfolds.”

The Lapeer West Robotics Team also passed inspection and participated in the Kettering competition.

Lapeer East Robotics Team receives new sponsor, heads to District competitions

Armed with a new sponsor, a new robot and a 22-student team the Lapeer East High School FIRST Robotics Team is set for its first regional competition at Kettering University in Flint on March 5 and 6.

The team showed off its new robot Tuesday night at CCS Robotics on Imlay City Road. On hand were continuing sponsor Tony Diodato, owner of CCS Robotics and new sponsor PNC Bank and representatives, Rick Chown, vice-president, Leanne Peterman, assistant vice-president, and Michelle Griffis, branch manager at the Lapeer Main branch, 948 South Main Street.

Mr. Chown presented a check for $3,000 to the team and the team’s advisor, Mr. George Mavis, industrial arts teacher at Lapeer East High School.

Students demonstrated the new robot which will compete with dozens of area robotics teams in a game of robot soccer. Each FIRST Robotics team receives an identical kit of electronic parts and a set of rules describing the game in January and then has six weeks to design and assemble the robot.

Students get technical advice and mentoring from Mr. Diodato and Mr. Mavis, but are responsible for building the robot.

“The students all have great ideas,” Mr. Diodato said.

In addition to fun, the six week build period has a serious side for Diodato who has hired three former Lapeer East graduates and former robotics team members for his business.

“It’s really like a six week job interview,” Mr. Diodato said. Other graduates have gone on to study engineering at Kettering University.

The competition events bring family, friends and many fans, said Mr. Mavis.

(Photo: Lapeer East Robotics Team. Rick Chown, vice-president of PNC Bank (in suit) presents a check for $3,000 to the team. Mr. George Mavis (far left teacher and advisor) and continuing sponsor Tony Diodato of CCS Robotics (far right) pose with the team)

“It’s a basketball game atmosphere,” said Mr. Mavis. “Bring you ear plugs.”
With a successful result at District competitions at Kettering or Ann Arbor on March 11, 12 and 13, the Lapeer East team will move on to State competition at Eastern Michigan University April 1, 2, 3. The national FIRST competition will be held in Atlanta April 15, 16 and 17 at the Georgia Dome.