Xavier robotics team shows its stuff

MIDDLETOWN >> FIRST Robotics team 4557, the Full Metal Falcons from Xavier High School, participated in the Waterbury District Competition on March 3-5, finishing in qualifying rounds with a 13th-place rank.

The team was eliminated in the quarter finals, but only after forcing a decisive third match, according to a press release. Following the qualifying rounds, the Fullmetal Falcons joined with teams from two other schools to form a three-team alliance for the playoffs.

The theme of this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition is Steam Punk, a sci-fi genre inspired by 19th-century steam powered machinery and Victorian-era fashions. Steam Punk was incorporated into the competition with objects such as “steam” boilers and “geardriven” flying machines, the release said. The Full Metal Falcons’ 21st-century computer driven-robot was equipped with a ball-shooting mechanism, pneumatic claw system and rope climber.

Competitors were: Adam Guzackus ‘18 (Berlin), human player; Mark Lavrentyev ‘18 (Cromwell), operator; Van Augur ’16 (Northford), drive coach/mentor; Braden Truscenski ‘18 (Hebron), driver; Tim Rinaldi ‘20 (Durham), pilot; Chris Wintenburg ‘18 (Middletown), head of build; Frank Dworak ‘18 (Cromwell), head of scouting; Gabe McCarty ‘18 (Guilford), head of safety; Nick Ericson ‘18 (Madison), head of finance; Marty Wall ‘19 (Clinton), head of awards and outreach;, Eamon Szilagyi ‘20 (Meriden), doodle squad; and Chris Sacchi ‘18 (Killingworth), build.

Also on the team were Justin Tan ‘18 (Ellington), business; Jacob Lee ‘18 (Salem), outreach; Seth Adam-Gilman ‘18 (East Hampton), scouting; Chris Gould ‘18 (Middletown), build; Nick Roncone ‘19 (Colchester), scouting; Brandon Hawke ‘19 (Guilford), business; Nick Dighello ‘20 (New Britain), safety; Luke Basset ‘20 (Westbrook), programming; Joseph Ewing ‘20 (Killingworth), build; Ethan Kerr ‘20 (East Haddam), build; Vincent Miano ‘20 (Portland), build; Osiah Wiggins ‘20 (Middletown), build; and Alex Math ‘20 (Wallingford), build.

The Full Metal Falcons was awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award for the second year in a row. This award celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.

The team next heads to the Hartford District Competition Friday through Sunday.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Middletown’s Xavier High School Robotics Team 4557 FullMetal Falcons. Team 4557 recently competed in the Waterbury District Competition, winning the Engineering Inspiration Award for the second year in a row.