Montgomery Catholic Robotics Team Wins State Tournament Two Years in a Row

For the fifth year in a row, the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School RoboKnights represented our school at the VEX Robotics State Competition. For the second year in a row, one high school team, “Happy Little Accidents” competed and won the title of State Tournament Champion.

Coach Vicki Petters credits their success to methodical building, testing, and programming. “This team has been focused on testing and adjusting all season long,” said Petters, of the team who won one of only two in-person tournaments in the River Region this year. “They began this season not knowing if there would be a State tournament, but prepared themselves for every opportunity to compete.”

Aidan Cochran and Hunter Dailey

The VEX Robotics challenge this year is called “Change Up,” and like in previous challenges, two alliances of two robots face each other on the playing field. The teams are tasked with using their robots to either shoot blue or red balls into the top of goals or pull balls out of the bottom of the goals to change which color ball is on top. Like in previous challenges, robots can score additional points by demonstrating autonomous programs in the first 15 seconds of each round. The remaining minute and 45 seconds are driver-controlled and allow the teams to demonstrate not only their designs but also their skills at operating their robots.

Unlike in previous years, the COVID pandemic challenged the Vex Game Design Committee to develop a way for teams to compete remotely. “Happy Little Accidents” quickly mastered this remote format, helping them win the State Tournament from their home field.

Happy Little Accidents is comprised of senior and VEX Worlds alumni Aidan Cochran, and 9th grader Hunter Dailey. The team will be competing in the Worlds tournament in this remote format from May 20-22, 2021.

Montgomery Catholic Track & Field Sets Two New School Records

Jeremiah Cobb

At the TR Miller Track and Field meet on Thursday, April 8th, the Knights Track Team set 2 new school records and placed in several events.

Sophomore, Jeremiah Cobb came in 1st place in the Boys 100m dash and set a new school record with a time of 10.96. Cobb also placed 1st in the Boys 200m dash. Sophmore, Matthew Galvin set another school record in the Boy's Triple Jump with a distance of 40-09.50 which was good for 2nd place.

Matthew Galvin

Other top finishers for the boys Knights were Titus Franklin who placed 2nd in the 400m dash, Sam Leslie who placed 5th in the 400m dash and 2nd in the 1600m, Andres Lemuz who placed 4th in the 800m, Kylon Griffin who placed 4th in the 110m hurdles, and Shawn Sponsler who placed 1st in high jump and 2nd in javelin. Our top girls finisher was Ann Cobb who finished 5th in the 100m dash, 3rd in the 200m dash, and 1st in the 400m dash.