“So, that was a lot of fun,” declared Tom Lockwood, one of the mentors of Hemlock’s Gray Matter FIRST Robotics Competition team. “In many ways, this was a dream season for us. We won a competition at Midland, the Michigan State Championship, and then had a wonderful performance at the FIRST Championship in Houston.”
Over 50 students, mentors, and family members traveled with the team. “We are lucky to have so many people in the community see the value of this program,” said Dana Lockwood, the team’s lead mentor. “You can’t fully fund a program like ours by only selling candy bars. Hemlock robotics has become successful in our town because of the support that everyone has shown. When we started this program, I had no idea the impact it would have on so many young lives. I’m proud of what this program has become and I am always excited to educate others about robotics.”
Ana Rodriguez, Gray Matter’s driver said, “I really love going to worlds because not only can you compete at the highest level, you make the best connections. I was over the moon at the chance to see my friends from other states and be able to play matches with international teams. We even competed in the playoffs with a team from Türkiye!”
FIRST Championships attracts 50,000 people from around the world including 600 FRC teams. There are 3,474 teams worldwide; Hemlock’s Gray Matter left the competition with statistics that rank them as the 40th best team.
“We’ve gotten better every year,” said Alex Haltom, the team’s drive coach. “It’s pretty surreal to get ready for a match and have the other teams familiar with what we do, how we play the game, and recognize us as the best team on the field for most matches. I’ve been with the team since its inception in 2015 and we’ve come a long, long, way.”
The reasons for improvement are many. Hemlock has some of the best facilities in the state, which are only getting better with the addition of the STEM Labs. The team has over 20 mentors, many of whom are professional engineers, software developers, IT professionals, electronics experts, and designers. The students get personal training from these professionals and learn that hard work and perseverance pay off.
The 2024 season may be over, but an offseason full of learning opportunities and personal development lies just around the corner.
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