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