School

Robotics Teams from Okaloosa High Schools compete in Regionals, Niceville advances to World Championship

This past week, Robotics Teams from across Okaloosa County traveled to Tallahassee to compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) Robotics Tallahassee Regional Competition. For Okaloosa County, this was a competition that included many “firsts.” As part of the competition, participants were given a challenge at the beginning of the […]

Jared Williams

This past week, Robotics Teams from across Okaloosa County traveled to Tallahassee to compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) Robotics Tallahassee Regional Competition.

For Okaloosa County, this was a competition that included many “firsts.”

As part of the competition, participants were given a challenge at the beginning of the robotics season to build a robot from scratch to complete the challenge. The were given no instructions.

For the first time, every major Okaloosa County high school was represented at the competition. Niceville High School had The RadioActive Roaches team and the HSU Educational Foundation sent two teams:

Special Forces BalistaBots – Crestview High School, coached by their engineering & robotics teacher Tim Sexton.
HSUwerx includes students from Fort Walton Beach High School, Choctawhatchee High School, Destin High School and the Collegiate High School. Coached by Aaron Johnson, 1SOW Mentor.

“All 3 teams shared a charter bus to Tallahassee together which gave Coach Ben Shuman and I opportunities to share information and insights with these two rookie teams,” said Coach Al LaRoe, NHS Robotics Team #2556 The RadioActive Roaches. “All 3 teams competed with 33 other teams from around Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and even Hawaii.”

Another first for the county is that Crestview High School was selected as the “Rookie All Star Team” for this regional competition. According to LaRoe, this is an honor given to the rookie team that best reflects the mission and ethos of FIRST – fierce competition linked with dedicated collaboration with all other teams.

Niceville’s RadioActive Roaches won this same award during their 1st competition years ago.

According to LaRoe, after a day of practice, followed by a day-and-a-half of challenging qualifying matches, 8 alliances were formed for the Championship. HSUwerx was selected by the #1 Alliance and made it through the quarter and semifinals undefeated.

The NHS RadioActive Roaches were selected by the #2 Alliance and also made it through the quarter and semifinals undefeated.

“Our alliance then met the #1 alliance (which included the HSUwerx) and defeated them in 2 straight (but very close) matches, winning the Inaugural Tallahassee Regional,” said LaRoe.

There are only two trophies awarded:

1st place: The RadioActive Roaches
2nd place: HSUwerx

Because of this win, Niceville has earned an invite to the World Championship in Houston in late April where they will compete with teams from all around the globe.

The final match of the tournament

The purple & yellow robot with 2556 on blue bumpers is Niceville High’s robot.

“It requires team work, problem solving, using STEM knowledge, patience, and a lot of time dedicated to the end goal,” said Okaloosa Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “All three of these teams have represented our district well!”

Congrats to all three teams for representing Okaloosa so well!

Join the conversation...Cancel reply

Continue reading 👇

School

More than 600 Seniors from across Okaloosa Schools celebrated for academic success

School

Five Okaloosa County JROTC cadets receive scholarships from Air and Space Forces Association

School

Okaloosa School District celebrates record growth in CTE with 350 students at 6th annual ‘Signing Day’

School

Elliott Point Elementary hosts second annual Career Day, building on last year’s success

Cain commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“And who do you think trashed it.”

Respond

Pat Hupp commented on Bill to repeal controversial customary use statute passes in Florida Senate

“Yea Don Gaetz of all people, he should go!”

Basil Meecham commented on Bill to repeal controversial customary use statute passes in Florida Senate

“Why the H... does anyone vote for any politician who is in favor of having the horrible disgusting private beaches? Every resident, every visitor, every tax payer MUST have a...”

Tim commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“The air force doesn't own or need the land! It isn't theirs. It was mostly Choctawhatchee National Forest. The air force tried to sell that land in the 2000's but...”

James Huston commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“Those signs that you recommend have been there for years, just people annoyed them to the point that Eglin has now had to step the game up”

Harriet G. commented on Okaloosa installs bollards to protect new multi-use path from vehicles

“Now that Ms. Ketchel has torn down more dunes, plus paved over what was beautiful sand, golf carts can drive from one end to the other. No way to cross...”

Anna commented on Senate committee advances bill to repeal Walton County beach access law

“It shows the beach being a part of the property. This was part of the plot plan. When the documents were shown to the attorney in depositions the Walton County...”

filftwalton commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“Great history lesson. The only point I'll disagree with is the multi use path... I think its a good thing. Maybe a lot of money but it may save a...”

“This fence is a colossal waste of DoD dollars and needs to be investigated. These dollars should have been spent supporting the warfighter. The ruse that it protects environmentally sensitive...”

Dave commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“This article is obviously written by someone with 0 knowledge of the area. The erosion happening now is because " The Wall," as anyone that's been here since the 70's...”