Ryan Boulanger, Reporter
@ryanbcourant
The VEX Robotics team seems like a direct entryway into the STEM world: It gives students hands-on experience with programming, explores fabrication techniques, and educates students on the engineering design process. However, the team not only produces an environment that encourages collaboration but also provides leadership skills that can prove to be valuable later in life.
This year’s competition, dubbed “Spin Up” by VEX Robotics, presents many different engineering challenges for the team. According to sophomore and Co-Captain Ben Skrelunas, the main goal in the competition is to score the most points via launching foam disks into a small goal in each corner, as well as several other “bonus” point opportunities around the ring that require additional modifications to the robot.
Each match is separated into two parts: an autonomous mode and a driver control period. “At the beginning of every match, there’s a 15-second autonomous period preceding a 1 minute and 45-second driver control period, for which you have to code your robot to collect the most points possible,” Ben said.
The competition requires a variety of roles to be filled by team members, such as a driver, a strategist, and a programmer. Sophomore and returning team member Everett Collin is this year’s driver. “It’s mainly just practice, we have a controller that’s similar to a lot of console controllers, so during practice, we do practice runs,” Everett said.
Stepping into these roles is a natural and informal process. “The team comes to an agreement around hey, why don’t you drive, or why don’t you do the interviews?” Club advisor Jim Zambarano said.
As a co-captain, Ben has been involved in the team since 7th grade, and though he must juggle an intense after-school sports commitment, this role has always been a priority. “As a captain, I help direct people, teach people how to build, and give a lot of directions based on my competition experience,” he said.
Mr. Zambarano’s hands-off approach to guiding the team has allowed members such as Ben and student Co-Captain Ewan Hamilton to earn their current positions. “We don’t name a captain, people become leaders because they rise to the opportunity offered to them,” Mr. Zambarano said.
The opportunities that this environment provides allow leadership and collaboration skills to flourish. “Because it’s so open-ended, they have to work as a team, which fosters leadership skills,” Mr. Zambarano said.
Over the past 14 years that the team has participated in competitions, it has qualified for Worlds three times and was State Champion in 2019. Following a dip in performance after a tough two years tainted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the team hopes to improve on last year’s semi-final finish. The team’s first competition was on Oct 29th, where they performed well during qualifying and made it to the first round of the bracket.
Although the team only made it to the first match of the bracket, they placed 16th out of 55 teams during the qualifying rounds. “I think we had a promising first competition and I am confident that we will have a successful season,” Ben said.
