The Comal Independent School district hosted two FIRST Lego League robotics tournaments recently with 14 teams qualifying for the region competition on March 7 at Taft High School in San Antonio.
A total of 34 teams participated in these tournaments which are also known as qualifying meets. The elementary meet took place on Jan. 25, and the middle school meet took place on Feb. 8. Both were hosted by the district at Canyon Lake High School.
The top three elementary teams include the War Potatoes from Indian Springs Elementary in first place, the Hiking Hawks from Rebecca Creek Elementary in second place and the Robo Masters from Johnson Ranch Elementary in third place.
In addition, the Cowboy Coders from Kinder Ranch Elementary, the Starts Lights from Startzville Elementary, the City Rats from Timberwood Park Elementary, the #Hawks from Mountain Valley Elementary, the Choo Chews from Hoffmann Lane Elementary, the City Savers from TPES and the Trash Masters from HLES also qualified for A.C.E. (Advancement to Championship), which is the region competition.
During the middle school tournament, six teams competed and four qualified for A.C.E. including the Hawk Builders of Mountain Valley Middle who took second place overall, Rob the Builder from Church Hill Middle, La Beanz of CHMS and Duckstruction from MVMS.
This year’s FIRST Lego League theme is City Shaper, challenging teams to observe how cities and buildings grow, thrive and change. Every year, the challenge includes three parts: the Robot game, the Project and the Core Values. Teams of up to 10 students along with at least two adult coaches participate in the competition by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field for the Robot game, develop a solution to a problem which they have identified for the Project while using the First Core Values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and fun.
FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) and the LEGO Group joined forces in 1998 to form the FIRST LEGO League in order to engage young students in science and technology. Today, more than 320,000 students participate in 98 countries in four programs divided into age groups: First Lego League Junior for kinder through fourth grades, First Lego League for fourth through eighth grades, First Tech Challenge for seventh through 12th grades and First Robotics Competition for ninth through 12th grades.
-Indian Springs Elementary had two FIRST Lego League teams participate in the Comal ISD tournament, the War Potatoes and the Robot Donuts. The War Potatoes are pictured from left Coach Lyndsay Cartledge, Coach Illiana Gonzales, Reid Blair, Jonathan Castillo, Cruz Gaines, Dylan Macs, Rote Brogdon, Coach Megan Heath-McLane and Tanner Allbritton.
-The Rebecca Creek Elementary FIRST Lego League team, Hiking Hawks, came in second during the Comal ISD tournament and qualified for the region competition on March 7. Pictured from left are Rowdy Hrncirik, Travis Slegers, Gage Jones, Rowan Edwards, Chloe Rockwell, Slater Sutherland and Charlotte Olivarez.
-The Johnson Ranch Elementary FIRST Lego League team, Robo Masters came in third during the Comal ISD tournament and qualified for the region competition on March 7. Pictured from left are Gage Everdeen, fourth grade; Garrison Weakly, fourth grade; Gerrit Van Der Valk, fifth grade; Owen Hakes, fourth grade; and Ryan Vendetti, fourth grade. Not pictured are Rylan Rees, fifth grade and Connor Hutchison, fourth grade.
-Mountain Valley Middle School had two FIRST Lego League teams participate in the Comal ISD tournament, the Hawk Builders and the Duckstruction, and both qualified for the region competition on March 7.