Seaside High School to Host FIRST® Robotics Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2022
Contact:
Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement
831-706-6971
Seaside High School to Host FIRST® Robotics Competition
Monterey High and Seaside High robotics teams to compete
Seaside, CA - The 2022 FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) Monterey Bay Regional comes to Seaside High School, located at 2200 Noche Buena Street, four two days between March 25 - 26, 2022. The Monterey Bay Regional is the first competition event of the season and the first return to an in-person FIRST® since the start of the global pandemic in 2020.
Two of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District’s high schools - Monterey High and Seaside High - will field teams in the competition. Monterey High’s team consists of 14 students ranging from freshmen to seniors and Seaside High’s team consists of nine (9) students, and they are all new to robotics this year. Schools from central and northern California will compete. Thirty six (36) teams will travel from Burlingame, Clovis, Greenfield, Hollister, Livermore, Los Gatos, Madera, Marina, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Pacific Grove, Palo Alto, Salinas, San Jose, San Mateo, Saratoga, and Seaside.
Beginning in August 2021 through December 2021, students have competed in preseason, where they use built robots from the previous year to introduce ways of play, design and programming. It is a strong opportunity to engage in off-season events to build skill. In January 2022, the season began with new design parameters, and teams have been designing and building a robot to compete in the game.
“Our teams are currently designing and building their robots and testing them under authentic conditions,” said Robin Coyne, Teacher and Robotics Coach, Monterey High School. Leading the Monterey High program for 10 years, Coyne states, “Robotics extends beyond building robots. This program helps students develop leadership skills and further prepare them for their future careers. The sport enhances collaboration, critical thinking, shared creativity, and the ability to go through a design process together to develop solutions.
“Our team has been devoted and motivated to build their robot during their free time after school and on Saturdays,” says Teacher and Robotics Coach Michelle Chen, Seaside High School. “I’m very proud of how much they’ve learned in just a few short months.”
Robotics also brings together the community. Parents and community members get involved as mentors and provide support in programming, fabrication and design. For example, Monterey and Seaside high schools have received support from the Naval Postgraduate School and professionals, such as metal specialists, in the area who want to support the students in this tech challenge.
Learn more about the Monterey Bay Regional at http://cafirst.org/frc/montereybay/.
Tentative Schedule
Due to COVID protocols, this event is not open to spectators. The event will be streamed live www.cafirst.org/frc/montereybay/
Thursday, March 24 (PRACTICE ONLY)
12:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Practice matches
8:00 p.m. Pits close
Friday, March 25 (COMPETITION DAY)
7:45 a.m. Team meeting
8:00 a.m. Pits open
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Opening ceremonies
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Qualifying matches
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Qualifying matches
5:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Awards ceremony
6:30 p.m. Pits close
Saturday, March 26 (COMPETITION DAY)
7:45 a.m. Team meeting
8:00 a.m. Pits open
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Opening ceremonies
9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Qualifying matches
12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Alliance selections
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Qualifying matches
5:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Awards ceremony
6:30 p.m. Pits close
The teams will compete in the upcoming April 7 - 10 Silicon Valley Regional at San Jose State University.
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