The Seadrift School 7th & 8th grade robotics team, the BAYRAT TECHB0TZ won a share of the local robotics league championship held at Palacios High School on Saturday, Feb 12.

The TECHB0TZ compete in the First Tech Challenge – Houston South League, which includes high school and intermediate school teams from Calhoun County, Matagorda County, and Brazoria County. The TECHB0TZ completed the regular season in 4th place which advanced them to the semifinals. The league championship tournament is held in a two-team alliance format, with semifinals and finals competing in best two out of three matches. For the semifinals and finals, the TECHB0TZ teamed with the Robo Sharks of Palacios High School, defeating the Cyber Sharks and Junior Sharks in the finals, and both teams advanced to the Houston Regionals in Pasadena on March 5.

The First Tech Challenge is the second tier of robotics competition created by inventor Dean Kamen with the principle of Gracious Professionalism. This is the first year the Techbots have competed at the FTC level, having just moved up from the First Lego League level.

The Calhoun County ISD robotics program is funded by the Alcoa Foundation.

-Write up by Mark Garrett & Steven Griggs