1997-1998

The 1997-1998 FIRST team continued the legacy of claiming a spot in the competition's national rankings.  The team won the Best Play of the Day award and the Featherweight in the Finals award at the 1998 Southwest Regional.  At the national competition, "Ladder Logic," in Orlando, Florida, the team soured to an 8th place finish out of more than 150 teams that came from various cities throughout North America.  Team 148 was named a National Quarterfinalist.  The machine, coined "The Big Ball Grabber," was truly a success.  Teamed with engineers from Raytheon E-Systems, the students visualized, designed, and created a machine that could lift large balls into a center goal.  This was made difficult at competition when The Big Ball Grabber had to compete against other machines that went for and defended this same goal.

The team of 1997-1998 was coached by Greenville High School instructor Vanessa Pope.  Members of the team included Curtis Brancheau, Jill Doshier, Brian Deuell, Wendy Evans, Chris Gerard, James Green, Elizabeth Hayatt, Lora Hunter, Giraud Jackson, Kimbell Kamu, Brittany Maxwell, Jenna McClanahan, Victor McConnell, Jeremy Mexia, Scott Mitchell, Melody Morrison, Aaron Nall, Tim Oliver, Melissa Park, Emily Pope, Jansen Powell, Jentry Powell, Keegan Ripp, Misty Rodriguez, Sarah Swanson, Zach Scholz, Chris Thatcher, Jon Thatchre, Shauna Torrance, Nick Upathum, and Matt Wineinger.