WHS competes in FIRST robotics competition

Cue the lights, fast beating music, referees in zebra shirts, crowds of kids, a pinball type of atmosphere, complete with flippers, spinning balls, whole teams of kids dressed up and Hays County Deputies guarding the door. Wow, no wonder the parking lot was packed.

A little ways up Ranch Road the Wimberley Wavelengths of WHS found themselves at the big time robotics event, the FIRST Competition, this year called “Infinite Recharge.” It is not a “your team is no good” type of high school competition, well okay there is a little of that, but helping each other out and an air of camaraderie of all the high schools reigns supreme.

This year’s spring competition was held in the Dripping Springs Competition Gym, with more than 3o all high school teams competing. The students packed one event room with their own team cubicle to work on their multitasking robot.

Each team has their own version, a remotely controlled robot conveyor belt on wheels, that picks up Nerf balls or (power cells) and shoots baskets for points.

The other event room was where the ring was set up with referees. Fast, bass-driven music thumped while teams exited the Plexiglas ring and the next teams entered. The robots were set up next to each other with their controllers on the opposite end of the ring inside their own Plexiglas booth. Battlebots TV show style, there was a lot of glitz and even team flags were waved with lots of hoopla.

Then ready, set, go.

For the next two and a half minutes, the robots drove over Nerf balls, which represented power cells for this project, picked them up, then maneuvered to shoot baskets with the Nerf balls. Seeing the robots maneuver and actually make baskets was exciting. Wimberley’s entry was used to new Nerf balls as opposed to used, so the tension had to be tightened. After that, baskets were even scored.

Knowing each robot had hours of work put into it, elbow grease, and the students’ determination and professionalism, this was great to see. The patience of the teachers and mentors was extraordinary. Even with the crowd of students, the event went smoothly and on time.

At the end of the event on Sunday, the Wimberley Wavelengths finished at 18 with an event total of 25 points.

To see the final results of the event see the website at frc-events.firstinspires.org/2020/TXDRI/rankings#district