The British Columbia FIRST Tech Challenge Championship was held on Saturday and Sunday February 25-26, 2023
Teams competed in 5 qualification matches followed by an elimination round. Match Results (ftc-events website).
Live stream recordings: Day 1 practice matches and Day 2 qualification matches and awards.
You can see photos of the event by clicking on this link.
Each team was ranked (ftc-events website) after five qualifying matches.
The top four teams become the Alliance Captains. These Captains picked two other teams to be their Alliance Partners in the elimination rounds.
The four alliances were:
- 22829 – INERTIA, with partners 16353 – Reynolds Reybots and 3491 – FIX IT.
- 16267 – Forces Unknown, with partners 19995 – Eclipse and 22111 – Matheson Mecha Mustangs.
- 16205 – Lightning Bots, with partners 16031 – PARABELLUM and 18841 – KSS ONE.
- 18840 – Reynolds Roborunners, with partners 16195 – Guild of Builders and 20025 – Esquimalt Atom Smashers.
BC FTC Championship Elimination results (ftc-events website)
Congratulations to team 18840 – Reynolds Roborunners, Captain of the Winning Alliance and their alliance partners 16195 – Guild of Builders and 20025 – Esquimalt Atom Smashers.
Alumni Bursaries
BC has a special Bursary program for Alumni volunteers who are in college or university to help them with the costs of their education. These college and university students have continued to be part of FIRST and have volunteered throughout the season. Five FIRST alumni were presented with $500 bursaries.
- Hanson Chan
- Cameron Douglas
- Georgia Douglas
- Julianna Kwan
- Kiarra Fernandes
Volunteer of the Year Award
The Volunteer of the Year award was given to Wendi Rottluff who is a long time volunteer as the Judge Advisor.
Judged Awards
In addition to the robot game, teams were evaluated for a number of judged awards that were presented at the end of the day. These are listed at ftc-events and described below.
Compass Award
The Compass Award recognizes an adult coach or mentor who has given outstanding guidance and support for a FIRST Tech Challenge team throughout the year. The winner of the Compass Award is determined from candidates nominated by student team members, via a 40-60 second video, highlighting how their mentor has helped them become an outstanding team and has truly demonstrated what it means to be a Gracious Professional.
Winner Mr. Gulati of Team 18841 KSS ONE – from Surrey, BC
Design Award
The Design Award expands on this year’s challenge, inspiring teams to incorporate industrial design into their robots. These elements can be shown in the simplicity of the design as it applies to the tasks, the look and feel of the robot in how the design allows us to think of robots in new ways. The design aspect must serve a function – but should also differentiate the robot in a unique fashion.
Third Place 19767 The Frog Series – from Terrace, BC
Second Place 18589 St. Pat’s Celtic Silverfish – from Vancouver, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This compact but mighty robot really packs a punch. All eyes were on their sleek but subtle colour scheme. Without a shadow of a doubt this team wowed the judges with their attention to industrial design principles.
Winner 19995 Eclipse – from Surrey, BC
Motivate Award
The team that receives the Motivate Award celebrates the culture of FIRST and clearly shows what it means to be a team. This award celebrates the team that represents the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge competition through team building, team spirit, and displayed enthusiasm. This is a team who makes a collective effort to make FIRST known throughout their school and community and sparks others to embrace the culture of FIRST.
Third Place 19995 Eclipse – from Surrey, BC
Second Place 18841 KSS ONE – from Surrey, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team never misses an opportunity to share the mission of FIRST. This season, their outreach efforts took them to new heights. On and off the field they’re a force to be reckoned with.
Winner 16267 Forces Unknown – from DELTA, BC
Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc.
The Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc celebrates the team that demonstrates innovative thinking in the control system to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, enhancing mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results on the field.
Third Place 14316 MDR Entradox – from Maple Ridge, BC
Second Place 16448 A.I.M. Bot Robotics – from Coquitlam, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team had a laser focus on achieving their goals. Their autopilot helped drivers stay on track. If you’re looking for this team, X marks the spot.
Winner 16195 Guild of Builders – from Victoria, BC
Innovate Award sponsored by Raytheon Technologies
The Innovate Award sponsored by Raytheon Technologies celebrates a team that has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. This award is given to the team that the Judges feel has the most innovative and creative robot design solution to the FIRST Tech Challenge game. Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness and ‘out of the box’ thinking.
This award may address the design of the whole robot or some sub-assembly component of the robot. The creative component needs to work consistently, but a robot does not have to work all of the time during matches to be considered for this award. The team’s engineering portfolio showed the design of the component(s) and the team’s robot, and clearly explains how the team arrived at their solution.
Third Place 18799 Clean-Up Crew Robotics – from Vancouver, BC
Second Place 16205 Lightning Bots – from Coquitlam, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
It was great to watch this team on and off the field. Their efficient cone transfer strategy wowed the judges with its speed and reliability. This innovative team is ready for anything.
Winner 16031 PARABELLUM – from Port Coquitlam, BC
Connect Award
The Connect Award is presented to the team that the Judges feel most connected with their local Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) community. A true FIRST team is more than the sum of its parts and recognizes that engaging their local STEM community plays an essential part in their success. The recipient of this award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself. In addition, this team aggressively seeks and recruits engineers and explores the opportunities available in the world of engineering, science, and technology.
Third Place 16195 Guild of Builders – from Victoria, BC
Second Place 19769 Sentinels – from Kitimat, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team embraced FIRST’s mission to spread the word about the value of STEM education. They expanded their reach and made many new connections. When faced with challenges, this team aims high.
Winner 16448 A.I.M. Bot Robotics – from Coquitlam, BC
Think Award
The Think Award is given to the team that the Judges feel best reflects the journey of the engineering design process. The engineering portfolio is the key reference for Judges to help them identify the most deserving team. This team’s engineering portfolio focused on the design and build stage of the team’s Robot and exemplified their journey as a team and engineers.
Third Place 15013 Friction – from Victoria, BC
Second Place 16353 Reynolds Reybots – from Victoria, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
What an exciting journey this team has had. Their engineering portfolio brought the judges right along for the ride through the peaks and valleys of their season. Their speedy robot is a bright beacon from the North.
Winner 19769 Sentinels – from Kitimat, BC
Finalist Alliance
Our Finalist Alliance:
Captain 16267 Forces Unknown – from DELTA, BC
1st Pick 19995 Eclipse – from Surrey, BC
2nd Pick 22111 Matheson Mecha Mustangs – from Surrey, BC
Winning Alliance
Our Winning Alliance:
Captain 18840 Reynolds Roborunners – from Victoria, BC
1st Pick 16195 Guild of Builders – from Victoria, BC
2nd Pick 20025 Esquimalt Atom Smashers – from Victoria, BC
Dean’s List Finalists
FIRST Dean’s List Finalists are outstanding student leaders whose passion for and effectiveness at embodying FIRST ideals is exemplary. These students were nominated by their teams for their direct contributions and impact on others – exemplifying leadership and commitment, on their FIRST Tech Challenge team, in their school, and in their community. FIRST Dean’s List Finalists, recognized here today, will represent British Columbia in the running for the ten Dean’s List Winner spots.
Congratulations
- Tristan Hall of Team 19769 Sentinels – from Kitimat, BC
- Maddison Morettin of Team 16267 Forces Unknown – from DELTA, BC
Inspire Award
The Inspire Award is presented to the team that the Judges felt truly embodied the ‘challenge’ of the FIRST Tech Challenge program. The team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and works to promote FIRST and make it loud in their community. The team that receives this award has performed well in all Judging categories and was chosen by the Judges as a model FIRST Tech Challenge team both on and off the playing field. This team shares their experiences, enthusiasm and knowledge with other teams, sponsors, their community, and the Judges. Working as a unit, this team will have shown success in performing the task of designing and building a robot.
Third Place 16031 PARABELLUM – from Port Coquitlam, BC
Second Place 16267 Forces Unknown – from DELTA, BC
Here is what the Judges have to say about the winner of this Award:
This team lights things up on the robot field, in the pits, and out in their community. They wowed the judges with their energy, enthusiasm, and clear commitment to embrace all FIRST has to offer. Got a challenge? This team will fix it!
Winner 3491 FIX IT – from Victoria, BC
