THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS COMPETE AT LEAGUES, 6TH GRADE TEAM EARNS INVITATION TO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
All three Greenhills middle school robotics teams competed at the South Central League Tournament, which took place Nov. 23-24 in Saline, Mich. This marked the Greenhills program’s 10th season competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and the first time it fielded three teams—including Greenhills’ new 6th grade team (26266). The 6th grade team joined its 8th grade (8511) and 7th grade (9895) peers for the 2024-25 season, and finished the season with an invitation to compete at the State Championship.
“It was a really successful season for the middle school robotics program,” said Greenhills robotics program coach R. Charles Dershimer. “The League Championship was an opportunity for all three teams to showcase their presentation skills during meetings with FIRST judges, their technical skills while problem solving broken robots in the pits, and their collaboration and leadership skills working together with each other and 30 other teams in our competitive alliance matches.”
This was the first league championship for the 7th grade team, and a joyful experience to compete at that level.
The 8th grade team finished with a 7-3-0 record and won second place for the FIRST Connect Award, which is a judged award that recognizes a team for connecting the dots between community, FIRST, and the diversity of the engineering world through science, technology, engineering and math—a great honor in robotics, according to Dershimer.
The 6th grade team was awarded third place for the FIRST Inspire Award, which is given to the team that serves as inspiration to other teams, acting with Gracious Professionalism® both on and off the playing field. For winning this award, team 26266 was invited to compete in the State Championship.
“The 6th grade team was thrilled to earn this invitation, recognizing that their success was supported by the efforts, mentoring, and foundation provided for them by the 7th and 8th grade team members,” said Dershimer. “While they faced some challenges, they all had an outstanding experience that defines the path that is ahead for them. They demonstrated success with working as a team, a focused effort for solving problems while engaging in all kinds of work to move the team forward, and joyfully celebrated the different opportunities provided by a FIRST robotics competition—including wins, losses, and moments in between matches cheering and dancing!”
All three teams are looking forward to continuing to learn more during off-season meetings and outreach events this winter and spring and growing their skills and spirit.
