By Andy Choi
Grandville high school robotics team marked a milestone on March 24 2012. With three FRC teams on the lead, it was the only school to enter the semi-finals at an FRC event in Waterloo, Ontario.
Grandville High School RoboDawgs
RoboDawgs 3D, RoboDawgs, and More RoboDawgs were the three Grandville alliances to compete in the semi-finals of the Waterloo competition. Although losing in the finals, the RoboDawgs 3D achieved a runner-up title.
In 1998, Grandville's robotics program was initiated with only one FIRST Robotics Competition team called the RoboDawgs. The robotics program has shown recent developments. The addition of the second FIRST Robotics Competition team ‘More RoboDawgs’, complemented the Grandville series in 2009. However, interest in competitive robotics among school students increased leading the third FRC team in 2010 called ‘RoboDawgs 3D.’
Mr. Mike Evele of Grandville serves as a head coach for the three RoboDawg teams. According to Evele, the RoboDawg teams have been inspired by hands-on experience included in the program. In 2012, the RoboDawg teams have participated in several FRC events that took place at Troy, MI; Baltimore, MD; Waterloo, ON; and Grand Rapids, MI. The teams are ready to move to the FIRST Championship event scheduled at St, Louis (MO).
Every Grandville RoboDawg team is directed by co-captains.
- More RoboDawgs (FRC team 216) is captained by senior Abby Wilson and junior Teddy Tran.
- RoboDawgs 3D (244) is led by Captains Senior Alex Vasziony and sophomore Mike Hepfer
- The RoboDawgs(288) is captained by senior Karl Apsite and sophomore Kyle Brown.
Grandville Academic Team Boosters support Grandville Robotics.
Source: http://www.grandvilleboosters.org/