Local robotics team wins state, advances to regional championships
A first-year robotics team made up of youth from Carson City and Reno has been crowned state champions following its victory at FIRST Robotics Tech Challenge Nevada State Championships held in Reno.
The rookie tech team, which goes by the name Fantom 234 as a nod to the Phantom supersonic jet aircraft and core values of the competitive organization, is comprised of three seventh-graders and a ninth grader.
"Like a ghost in the background, Fantom 234 was nearly undetected during the FIRST Tech Challenge season," team spokesperson Dee Frewert, Ed.D. said, "but when it came to the state championships, they made the right moves, prayed for miracles, and tapped into a lucky selection of their alliance partners, the Sonic Screwdrivers and the Sage Ridge Scorpions."
Fantom 234 was victorious as the Winning Alliance Captains for the Relic Recovery Game crowned at the state championship competition in Reno.
And, in just three weeks, the local team will represent Nevada at the FIRST Western Super Regional Championships, held March 9-11 in Spokane, WA.
Fantom 234 is also a Junior Optimist Club, as enthusiastic as it is optimistic about representing Nevada at regionals. Its members include Miles Frewert, Christopher Hall, Dravid Chitturi and Niko Chitturi.
The greatest challenge facing the team now is affording the trip to regional competition.
"Please consider donating to Fantom 234 GoFundMe campaign for their registration and travel to Spokane," Dr. Frewert said. "Please spread the word of their need, like their [Facebook] page Fb.me/Fantom234 and share their FB post."
With skills, luck, and their phantom secret team building recipe, Fantom 234 could advance further to the World Championships in Houston, Texas.
"Their goal is $6,000 and if they advance to the World Championships, [they] will need an additional $10,000," Dr. Frewert said.
To help the team get there visit Gofundme.com/Fantom-234.
For questions, in-kind donations of any materials, service or provisions, contact the team via email at Fantom234@gmail.com.
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