Center Line District Competition Success

FIRST Team 68, Truck Town Thunder, participated in the Center Line FIRST Robotics District Competition this weekend on Friday and Saturday at Center Line High School in Center Line, Michigan.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of T3’s partners, mentors, and students, Truck Town Thunder competed with confidence, seeding 11th in the qualification matches with an average qualification score of 50.50.

After qualifications, the team was generously invited to join FRC Team 573, Mech Warriors, and FRC Team 5225, Shamrocks, in their alliance during the alliance selection process, an offer that Truck Town accepted graciously. The competition became progressively more exciting as the quarterfinals began at the start of the playoff matches, with the team’s thunderous cheering having risen in intensity. T3 and its alliance partners pushed through the quarterfinals with an average playoff score of 81.60, and they moved on to the semifinals. The alliance was, unfortunately, eliminated with the conclusion of the semifinal matches, but the spirit and good sportsmanship of all teams in the alliance never faltered.

During the awards ceremony, Truck Town Thunder was presented with the Industrial Safety Award sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories for using innovative methods to prevent and avoid hazards both on and off the competition field and in their pit area.

But, one moment in particular made everyone on the team’s day. Truck Town Thunder was honored to receive a District Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award in all of FIRST, celebrating the team that best serves as a model for other teams to emulate. Truck Town’s extensive community outreach throughout the years had definitely set a good example for other teams to follow. T3, with what seemed like half of its students in tears, overcome with happiness, gladly accepted the award, setting the course for the team’s comeback this season with a guaranteed ticket to the FIRST Michigan State Championships on April 9th – 11th.