The Team


About Our Team

Our team is part of a worldwide organization called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). FIRST’s mission is to take learning beyond the classroom and inspire students to pursue higher education and careers in technology-related fields. This is done through an annual robotics competition where several high school students, working in conjunction with engineering mentors, are given six weeks to design and build a robot to compete against other robots from other schools around the world. Our team has an eight-year history of success including winning the San Diego Regional competition and taking third-place in the World Championships in 2008.

The robotics program at West Covina High School provides students with a unique hands-on experience that challenges students to work hard, be innovative, and apply their academic knowledge to a real world engineering project. Through this program, students gain access to hundreds of college-scholarships and develop skills that will last their entire lives.

Our History

2002

West Covina High School creates FRC team 968, Robotics Alliance of West Covina (RAWC). The team was created by physical science teacher Robert Anderson, Scott McLeroy, and Cal Poly Pomona engineering students Travis Covingtion (previously of team 115 Monta Vista HS), Kirk Oden (previously of team 100 Woodside HS). WCHS sophmore students Richard Medina and Carl Hedlund join; since graduating they have become mentors for the team.

            The Game: Zone Zeal
              Robot Name: Fred

        Main Function: Has two large hooks on both sides of the robot that can attach to two of the moveable goals on the field. A pneumatic piston in both arms of the robot allows it to unlatch itself from the goals if necessary.

        Attended competitions:

        Southern California Regional @ Los Angeles Sports Arena-

        Seed 23rd out of 60 teams overall

        Competed in Finals; eliminated in semifinals

        FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Championship Event @ EPCOT Center-

        Competed in the Newton Division

        Seeded 21st out of 73 teams

        Awarded Highest Rookie Seed

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        2003

                  The Game: Stack Attack
                  Robot Name: Ginger

        Main Function: Had a modular design to play two different types of strategy. Has an option of a wing mechanism that can push and knock down box. Wings can be switched out for a parallel bar linkage system that can stack boxes. As well as hav our first 2-speed shift-on-the-fly transmission.

        Attended Competitions:

        (The 1st) Arizona Regional @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix

        Seeded 11th out of 37 teams

        Alliance Leader in finals

        Won the regional competition

        Earned the GM Industrial Design Award

        Southern California Regional @ the Los Angeles Sports Arena

        Seeded 1st out of 58 teams

        Alliance Leader in finals

        Placed as Regional Finalist

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        2004

              The Game: FIRST Frenzy- Raising the Bar
                  Robot Name: Chazerwazer

        Main Function: Was design to be a ‘do it all’ robot. It had a hook to be able to lift itself up from an 8 foot high chin up bar. Had a mechanical arm that can lift a large aerobic exercise ball. Had two small wings on the sides that can corral jelly balls around. Created our 2nd generation transmission; an improved version of the 2-speed shift-on-the-fly.

        Attended Competitions:

        Southern California Regional @ the Los Angeles Sports Arena

        Seeded 10th out of 57 teams

        Alliance Leader in finals

        Eliminated during Semifinals

        FRC Championship Event @ the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

        Competed in the Newton Division

        Seeded 21st out of 73 teams

        Competed in finals

        Eliminated in quarter finals

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        2005

                  The Game: Triple Play
                  Robot Name: Aires

        Main Function: Had a two-stage arm stage arm, which gives it the ability to grab and lift several ‘tetras.’ Our 3rd generation transmission was a 4-speed shift-on-the-fly.

        Attended Competitions:

        Southern California Regional @ the Great Western Sports Arena

        Competed in finals

        Became Regional Finalist

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        2006

                  The Game: Aim High
                  Robot Name: Johnny 5
                Prototype Robot: Proto-Johnny

        Main Function: Design executes all the tasks a robot can do in the game. It had a front ball feeding mechanism, which allowed it to pick up balls from off the playing field floor and store in a large hopper. The ball feeder also has the ability to reverse itself making it able to score in the low-goals. The robot also has a shooting mechanism that has the ability to shoot from anywhere from middle line of the field up to the base of the ramp to shoot into an 8 foot high center goal. It also has the ability to go up onto the ramp and also shoot from on the ramp.

        Attended Competitions:

        Southern California Regional @ the Great Western Sports Arena

        Seeded 3rd out of 50 teams

        Alliance Leader during finals

        Won the regional competition

        Earned the Motorola Quality Award

        FRC Championship Event @ the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

        Competed in the Newton Division

        Seeded 27th out of 86 teams

        Competed in Divisional finals

        Won the Newton Division

        Competed in Championship finals

        Became Championship Finalist

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        2007

                  The Game: Rack N’Roll
                  Robot Name: Trogdor
                Prototype Robot: Chuck Norris

        Main Function:

        Attended Competitions:

        Southern California Regional @ the Great Western Sports Arena

        Seeded 7rd out of 52 teams

        Eliminated in quarter finals

        Earned the Judges Award

        San Diego Regional @ the IpayOne Center

        Eliminated in semi-finals