MANITOULIN—Both Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) and Wiikwemkoong High School FIRST Robotics teams had success at the first competition of the season, held in North Bay at Nipissing University this past weekend.
The MSS Metal Robotics #6865 team, “won the Engineering Inspiration Award for setting engineering excellence in the school and the community, and will interview for it at the provincial championships in Mississauga (being held in April),” said MSS team mentor Yana Bauer.
MSS member Amara Wilson-Zegil won the safety all start award at the competition and Ms. Bauer was nominated by her team for the Woodie Flowers top mentor award and will compete for it at the provincial championships.
Chris Mara, mentor of the WHS #5672 robotics team told the Expositor, “We won the Judges Award For Cultural Ambassadors. Our design team had done a really interesting woodland theme which was integrated in the robot design with art, logo, team t-shirts and the three panels that were displayed in the pit area at the competition.”
Mr. Mara also explained team members Pahquis Trudeau and Chyella George represented WHS at the opening ceremonies to the competition in grass and jingle dress dance.
As for the robots competition Mr. Mara explained, “It was definitely an uphill battle all day. The team had to do lots of trouble shooting and reassessing (and didn’t qualify for the championship round of competition). “We are all looking forward to (this) weekend’s competition at McMaster University in Hamilton.”
Members of the WHS team includes team members Adrian Katt, Adrian Bell, Zander Shawongonabe, Tristan Wemigwans, Phoenix Hoy, Pahquis Trudeau, Chyella George, Hope Eshkibok, Brayden Pangowish, Reyley Wassegijig, Grace Pitawanakwat, Justice Manitowabi, Carmine Wemigwans, Liam Wassengesso, Ava Wakegijig, Ellie Leedham, Tamara Bondy, Blaine Naokwegijig, Javier Cooper, Rakejah Wallace, Mercedes Aibens, Brianna Mishibinijima.
“Our team finished 17th among the 32 teams in the robot matches,” said Ms. Bauer. “We are really excited about competing at McMaster University (this weekend).”
Members of the MSS team include team members Tim Arabadzhyi, Phoebe Aeschlimann, Garrett Charbonneau, Elizabeth Elliot, McKinley Fox, Athena Gravelle, Addy Gray, Nevaeh Harper, Tanner Hooper, Kaden Jamieson, Jacob Jones, Ryan Kuntsi, Dylan Kuntsi, Sebastian Mara, Xavi Mara, Robyn-Ashley McNaughton, Alexis McVey, Connor O’Leary, Samuel Pennings, Isaac Quackenbush, Xander Thompson, Elias Titian, Alan Wilkin, Amara Wilson-Zegil, Alex Wilson-Zegil and mentors Mike Zegil, Scott Willis, Ben Willis, Yana Bauer, Drew Thompson and Matt Gray.