The sound of motors running and balls droppings surround the Westminster robotics team as they enter into competition season. The season has recently begun and the team is ready to compete. On March 11th and 12th, the Cyborg cats attended a competition at the Chaifetz Arena and soon began to show that they are a fierce competitor.

     The Cyborg Cats entered the competition early. As they entered they immediately went to work. At the competition, the robot was still not complete and the team went to work busily working till the last second before the activities began.

     The competitiors that Team 4256 face are all fierce. They face fellow local schools including: De Smet Jesuit High School and Visitation Academy. Each group is given the same amount of time to build and prepare their robot for competition.

     These robots must compete on a difficult course that challenges the robot and its driver to maneuver hills, defensive obstacles, and towers. The game consists of two teams of alliances. These alliances change every time, but the teams of three must work together to defend their castle from their opponent. Each robot must be able to go over defenses, retrieve balls, and score goals by throwing the balls in the opponent’s tower. The teams also have the opportunity to capture the tower by having their robot climb it.

     Each time that the robot plays it takes a toll on the machinery. The defenses and towers each are difficult to maneuver and created a challenge for both the robot and driver. The course this year was very difficult compared to past years courses and created a challenge for the robot.

     Within the competition, the team broke even. They won half of the matches that they took part in. Although the team was not as successful as they wished to be they are ready to get back to work.

     “I don’t think our team was quite as prepared as we thought we were. I think before the next competition we need to continue practicing and make sure that the robot will compete in the way we wish,” said Lisa Harding, Robotics team head coach.

     At the St. Louis Regional the team did win a notable award. The Entrepreneurship Award is awarded to the team “that has developed the framework for a comprehensive business plan to scope, manage, and achieve team objectives.” This allows the team to be recognized within the competition with one of the most prestigious awards.

      The team continues to work hard for several upcoming competitions. At the end of March, the Cyborg cats will attend the Queen City Regional in Cincinnati, Ohio. The four day competition will allow the chance for the team to gain their bid to the World Competition. The robotics team has competed in this sacred competition before, but each year the level of competition increases.

     The team has already been working for the past two months to achieve their goals, but the work must continue.

     “By the end of the season, as a team we want to be able to drive and compete the robot as we originally designed. Winning a regional competition would also be nice,” said Lisa Harding. The team continues to work for the upcoming months to achieve this goal until the season comes to a close. The team will continue to participate in competitions until the end of the spring.