While a Hallowe'en Haunted House was taking place in the basement of the old Armoury in downtown Rochester, thirty-two teams from across the U.S. and four teams from Ontario, including Celt-X from Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School, competed on the main floor.
In this year's game, "Rapid React", teams built their robots to launch super-sized tennis balls into a central goal for points and to climb a monkey bar-like apparatus for bonus points during the end game. Earlier this year, in the regular competition season, MakeShift placed fourth overall at the Provincial Championship and qualified for the World Championships.
Ruckus was a great opportunity to introduce rookie team members to the excitement of a robotics competition and allow all of the students a chance to try out new roles, like pit crew, match strategy, and drive team. The team from St. Mary and their robot "SwERVE" got off to a great start, posting the event high score in their very first match. At the end of the qualification round, MakeShift was in fourth place.
During alliance selections for the playoffs - a process similar to a draft for a sports team - MakeShift was picked immediately by the top-seeded Ranger Robotics from Spencerport, NY and then added Northwood Robotics from Lake Placid, NY to form the #1 alliance. With the parents and teammates cheering in the stands, MakeShift's alliance swept the quarter- and semi-final rounds. In the finals, the opposing alliance kept the match close but the precise shooting of Ranger and MakeShift coupled with the defence being played by Northwood allowed the St. Mary alliance to come away with the victory.
This was MakeShift's third win at Ruckus. Owing to their colourful attire and matching robot, the team was also recognized with the "Crypt Keeper" award, given to the team with the best imagery as judged by the other competitors.
There was no time to rest for MakeShift as the team, along with Bishop Ryan's team Celt-X, hosted the STEMley Cup Championship off-season robotics competition the following weekend at St. Mary. Thirty-seven teams competed there for the honour of hoisting the prestigious STEMley Cup, in what was the only fall off-season event hosted in Canada this year.
MakeShift, along with almost four thousand other FIRST Robotics teams from around the world, will then be turning their attention to the 2023 season that kicks off on January 7.
(Submitted by MakeShift Robotics)
For more information
90 Mulberry Street
Hamilton Ontario
Canada L8N 3R9
www.hwcdsb.ca
