Robotics team advancing to super-regionals

Robotics Team 5326, The Enterprisers, composed of high school students from Virginia City and Reno, will compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge West Super-Regional Robotics Championship from March 27-29 in Oakland, Calif.

The Enterprisers, partnered with teams from Pacifica and Stanford, Calif., took first place at the Northern California Regional Championship in February to qualify for Super-Regionals. Only two Nevada teams have qualified, one from Northern Nevada and one from Southern Nevada.

The Enterprisers have encountered some controversy this season as the team’s defense has stopped some of the best teams in the country. Some competitors have called for new rules to reduce the impact of such active defense.

The West Super-Regional takes place at the Oakland Convention Center on March 27-29, hosting the top 72 teams from the western United States. Nearly 1,000 teams competed at more than 80 qualifying and championship tournaments taking place in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming during the 2014-2015 FTC season. The top teams from the U.S. Super-Regionals, along with teams advancing from international championships, will advance to the FTC World Championship, April 22-25, in St. Louis.

The Enterprisers are sponsored by Google, Mountain View, Calif.; Jeremy Cole, VC Highlands; Coca-Cola, Atlanta, Ga.; 3D Systems, Rock Hill, S.C.; PTC, Needham, Mass.; Dolan Automotive Group, Reno; and numerous local individuals and families.

If The Enterprisers qualify for Worlds, additional sponsors are going to be needed. To help, contact Coach Patti Poston at CoachPatti@ftcteam5326.com.