GHS FIRST team prepares for event
April 21, 1999     Greenville Herald Banner

By Mike Kearns

Herald Banner Staff

Greenville High School students and volunteer engineers from Raytheon Systems Company that comprise the GHS FIRST team will join 280 other U.S. high schools Thursday in a three-day national annual FIRST Robotics Competition in Orlando, Fla.

The team, comprised of 21 GHS students and 10 volunteer engineers, earned the right to compete by placing fifth out of 30 teams in regional competition held in early March in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

"We had to make the first break of being one of the top eight machines to even be considered for a place in the final competition," said Vanessa Pope, GHS team sponsor.

"Our team had to begin the competition for a spot at regional and nationals on the day we were given our kit of parts.  It you can't build a machine to completion and have it ready to ship in six weeks, then you can't be a part of the competition," she added.

The multi-functioning GHS robot, named "Rough rider" was constructed from a furnished kit of parts including such items as van seat motors, drill motors, PVC and other various small parts.  Students and engineers then team together, testing the limits of their own imaginations, to create the entry.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is centered on a new engineering challenge or "game" each year designed to showcase the science and math talents of team members.

Details of the annual event are kept secret until being unveiled at the "competition kickoff," providing each team with an equal start.  The game for competitors this year is called "Double Trouble" and is the first year that teams must ally themselves with an opposing team in order to compete.

"We chose a team from St. Louis Park, Ill. as our alliance," said Melissa Park, GHS senior and team captain.  "Their robot, 'Big Jimmy' was the most complimentary team for our robot.  You have to watch every machine in each round played for two days and make a decision in about 15 minutes as to who will work best with your machine."

FIRST teams from GHS have set themselves apart as the only Texas team to continually make it to the finals at regional and national competition for the past six years, according to Pope.

Among the awards previously garnered by the GHS FIRST team are the defensive play award at national competition in 1994; best defensive machine in national competition in 1995; chairman's award finalist at national competition in 1996; third place finish in the Chicago regional competition in 1997 and the design creativity award at the regional competition in 1997; chairman's award finalist, outstanding defensive machine and scholarship team in the national competition in 1997; featherweight in the finals and best defensive machine in the regional competition in 1998 and a quarterfinalist and top ten machine medal in national competition in 1998.

GHS students currently on the FIRST team are Curtis Brancheau, Darby Collier, Brian Deuell, Josh Ebrahim, Chris Gerard, Amanda Howell, Lora Hunter, Buddy Kimberlin, Ryan Marcum, Andy McClellan, Aaron Nall, Tim Oliver, Melissa Park, Jentry Powell, Stacy Rhodes, Keegan Ripp, Chris Thatcher, Josyh Thatcher, Shaunna Torrance, Justin Wineinger and Matt Wineinger.

Volunteer engineers on the 1999 GHS FIRST team are Gus Gonzalez, John Hodapp, Patrick Hodapp, Steve Maxwell, Paul Nall, Danny Oliver, Will Reese, Gabe Snyder, Ricky Torrance and Monty Wineinger.