The challenge this year was to build a robot that could throw Frisbees into targets and climb a seven and half foot tall tower. Robots by the C decided to focus on climbing the tower and created a 120 pound robot in only six weeks that climbed the tower by rotating end over end as it climbed. This task involved many mathematical equations, with a lot engineering and technology. This competition has been named “the varsity sport for the mind.”

Competing against 50 teams from New England, Brazil and Canada over loud music and the roar of the crowd, the team won many matches over the three day event. Robots by the C accomplished their challenge of climbing the tower but did not make it into the finals. Although they did not make it to the finals, they certainly gained knowledge, team work, accomplished execution and had tons of fun!

Team members: Captains- Dustin Ferzacca, Loyd Waites & Sam Carlberg; Team- Alexei Goldsmith-Solomon, Alexis Hemeon, Alex Shepard, Austin Waldsmith, Ben Wolsieffer, Brady Winn, Christine Pries, Dylan McClure, Julia Whitten, Sam Creighton, Scotty Franklin, Tatum Hosman, Teirney McTiernan, Toni Rerisi, and Tyler Duda; Advisor Joseph McDonough; Mentors Dennis Carlberg, Mory Creighton, Nick Ferzacca, Rob Solomon, Lynn Atkinson, Gary Gilbert, Sarah Creighton, and Gail Halloran.

Thanks to our Sponsors: Spaulding Education Fund, The Hooper Fund, MIT Lincoln Labs, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Society of American Military Engineers, and Pinpoint Laser Systems.

Students, mentors and parents welcome advisor Joseph McDonough to the team! Mr. McDonough is a fifth grade teacher at Memorial School. We are happy to have him as our advisor. There are also three new captains this year, seniors Sam Carlberg, Dustin Ferzacca and Loyd Waites. The team is building on the excitement from last season, including being a finalist at the Boston FIRST competition. We encourage new members to join. We have new robotic challenges this year. So far, we’ve participated in the Post Rebound Rumble competition in Manchester N.H. in October and Savage Soccer in November.  We also held a fundraising auction at JD Meyers & Friends in Magnolia. The team thanks JD Meyers for all their help and support, as well as the bidders at the auction.

Our current project is the FIRST challenge called Ultimate Ascent. The robots compete to score points by throwing Frisbees and climbing a seven and a half foot pyramid. As usual, it’s a tough one! We have another five weeks to build the robot. The competition will be held on March 21-23, 2013 at Boston University’s Agganis Auditorium. Hope to see you there!!!

Criteria for selection of the FIRST Dean’s List includes, but is not limited to, a student’s:

• demonstrated leadership and commitment to the ideals of FIRST;
• interest in and passion for a long term commitment to FIRST and its ideals;
• overall individual contribution to their team;
• technical expertise and passion;
• entrepreneurship and creativity;
• ability to motivate and lead fellow team members; and
• effectiveness at increasing awareness of FIRST in their school and community.

Sean has been on US First Team 2084 for three years and is an advocate to bring more attention to US First in the community and the schools. Sean and the team have been demonstrating and explaining the US First's program and mission around town and in the classroom, from outside Dunkin Donuts, to handing out programs at the Spaulding Trust Talent Show, a float in the  July 4th parade and instruction in the  industrial design and other classes in the schools. Look for the robot and the team around town and in the July 4th parade!

Sean has been invited to attend the  FIRST Championship in St. Louis where he will be considered for the FIRST  Dean’s List Award. Ten students will be selected from the finalists  as the FIRST Dean’s List Award Winners for the 2012 FRC season.

      Manchester Essex Regional High School Robotics Team, Robots by the C, participated in US First Robotics Competition March 23 & 24th in BU's Agganis Arena in Boston. The team was one of 53 teams from the United States and the world. There were US teams from as far away as Florida and international teams from Canada, Mexico and Turkey.The arena was rocking with loud music, flashing lights, flags & banners and a cheering crowd. The robots were all designed, built, and programmed by the students and ready to rumble. This year's game was called "Rebound Rumble." The robots needed to score Nerf-like basketballs into hoops and then balance as many as three robots onto a bridge (no easy task). A match consisted of alliance against alliances, each with three robots. The game included offense, defense, fouls, technical fouls, and multiple crashes and break downs. Between matches, the robots went back to the pit for repairs and strategy.There were one and a half days of seeding matches played to get down to the final eight teams. Those eight teams picked two other robots to form their team alliance of three robots. Robots by the C earned their way into the final eight alliances. The final eight alliances then played sudden death, best two out of three matches to reach the final two alliances.  Robots by the C was in the final round!  The team performed with precision. All the long days of hard work paid off with positive results. The fans were on their feet cheering. By four points or three seconds we missed first place and took second place. This is an outstanding accomplishment for any team. Everyone is so proud.