Weekly Newsday - February 22 ... (Sent on Feb 24th via Google Group)
Vince Frascella
Greetings Newsletter Subscribers and FTCNJ Coaches
Here is our weekly update on our “Freight Frenzy” Season. (Sorry for delay)
New information is shown in blue text. Hot items in Highlight!
If you have any questions about you are reading, below, just drop us a line. Glad to explain.
HEADLINES:
· Remote Judging at the March 6th State Championship
o Based upon volunteer availability, and other factors, Judging at States will be performed Remotely for one more year.
o Teams that have earned advancement to States have been advised of the schedule. In a nutshell, here it is …
§ Presentation Interviews will be conducted on Saturday morning, March 5th (in the 9am-12 block of time).
§ Follow-Up Interviews will be conducted on Saturday afternoon, March 5th (in the 1pm – 4pm block of time).
§ Teams will play all Matches on Sunday, March 6th. Judges will deliberate 6pm-8:30pm on March 7th.
§ Closing Ceremony and Awards Announcement will take place at 9pm on March 7th.
· The “Western Conference” League Tournament was held at Chatham High School on February 19th.
o Congratulations to the Winning Alliance Captain #9889 (Cruise Control) and Partner #16367 (Krypton Warriors)
o Our Inspire Winner, #11253 (STEMROX RumbleBots), and other winners, are provided in the attachment. Kudos!
· The “Northern Conferences” League Tournament was held at Payne Tech (Newark) on February 20th.
o Congratulations to the Winning Alliance Team #7026 (Jdroids) and Partners #11456 (Blair Academy) and #19871 (Orange Tornadoes)
o Our Inspire Winner, #7026 (Jdroids), and other winners, are provided in the attachment. Nice work!
ON THE HORIZON:
· Judge Volunteers
o Our Remote Judge volunteers have been doing an amazing job.
o It takes many dedicated volunteers to make this Program work. These people are investing their Mon-Tues-Weds nights for the students!
§ As we come upon the last Remote Judging events, we are still in need of Remote Judge Volunteers.
§ If you have been a past Judge or have ever thought about stepping up to lend a hand, now is the time. Help with this remote effort.
o There are only two weekends left to the season … our Final League Tournament Weekend and FTCNJ State Championship Weekend.
§ Please step up and lend a hand if you possibly can.
§ Please drop a note back to Vince if you are a past, present, or future judge who is interested in helping.
· Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27th
o Final In-Person League Tournaments for Freight Frenzy Season
§ Glen Rock High School is site of the “Bergen County Conference” League Tournament on Saturday.
§ On Sunday, TecHounds host the “Deep South Conference” League Tournament at North Burlington Middle School.
Quick Links:
COMMUNICATIONS CAUCUSES
Coaches Caucus
Our next Coaches Caucus will be the second Friday in March.
Here is the Registration Link for interested Coaches: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkdumoqz0rHtWzHNPd4okjpvrnnH2KOSmO
Hope to see you there.
Captains Caucus … Postponed to mid-March
At this monthly student-led Zoom, student Team Leaders meet to share best practices.
Only a handful of Team Leaders registered for the 2/25 Zoom. It is understandable that Captains are focused on League Tournaments and States.
We’ll regroup in March, after the State Championship is behind us.
Topics to include: (A) Robot Topics, (B) Team Plans – Future, (C) Post-Season Events, (D) Outreach Plans, (E) Communication & Coordination.
LEAGUE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
In addition to the attachment, here’s a quick summary of the top awards … (New information in blue text)
February 5th – Frozen Frenzy (Piscataway)
Inspire
Winner: 7350 Watt's NXT? - from Edison, NJ
Second Place 14481 Don't Blink - from Plainsboro, NJ
Third Place 18671 Faraday - from Edison, NJ
Winning Alliance:
Captain 11697 TECH-tonic - from East Brunswick, NJ
1st Pick 19735 HRNT - from Holmdel, NJ
2nd Pick 5398 Robotux - from Holmdel, NJ
Finalist Alliance:
Captain 7350 Watt's NXT? - from Edison, NJ
1st Pick 14481 Don't Blink - from Plainsboro, NJ
2nd Pick 8421 Tigers - from Piscataway, NJ
February 6th – Perfect Swarm (Bayonne)
Inspire
Winner: 18246 ∆V - from Rutherford, NJ
Second Place 17670 Raider Robotics - from Scotch Plains, NJ
Third Place 4890 Hive Voltage 2.0 - from Bayonne , NJ
Our Winning Alliance:
Captain 4890 Hive Voltage 2.0 - from Bayonne , NJ
1st Pick 17670 Raider Robotics - from Scotch Plains, NJ
Finalist Alliance:
Captain 3774 Hive Voltage - from Bayonne, NJ
1st Pick 16557 Honey K-Ohms - from Bayonne, NJ
February 13th – Snowday Showdown (Hightstown)
Inspire
Winner: 11754 EnergySmart FTC - from Somerset, NJ
Second Place 16102 The Short Circuits - from Princeton Junction, NJ
Third Place 14020 NEMESIS Prime - from Trenton, NJ
Winning Alliance:
Captain 11754 EnergySmart - from Somerset, NJ
1st Pick 6069 – Pingry from Basking Ridge
Finalist Alliance:
Captain 16102 The Short Circuits
1st Pick 19772 Rust in Piece
February 19th – RoboTussle (Chatham HS)
Inspire
Winner: 11253 STEMROX RumbleBots - from Succasunna, NJ
Second Place 16367 Krypton Warriors - from Parsippany, NJ
Third Place 17009 Steel Magnolias - from Riverdale, NJ
Winning Alliance:
Captain 9889 Cruise Control - from Flanders, NJ
1st Pick 16367 Krypton Warriors - from Parsippany, NJ
Finalist Alliance:
Captain 12116 Redbots - from Parsippany, NJ
1st Pick 10096 Those Guys – from Long Valley, NJ
February 20th – Northern League Conferences (Payne Tech, Newark)
Inspire:
Winner 7026 JDroids - from Wayne, NJ
Second Place 248 Fatal Error - from Sparta, NJ
Third Place 18051 Robotic Llamas - from Hoboken, NJ
Our Winning Alliance:
Captain 7026 JDroids - from Wayne, NJ
1st Pick 11456 Blair Academy - from Blairstown, NJ
2nd Pick 19871 Orange Tornadoes - from Orange, NJ
Finalist Alliance:
Captain 18051 Robotic Llamas - from Hoboken, NJ
1st Pick 248 Fatal Error - from Sparta, NJ
2nd Pick 15231 ECR Squared – from Haledon, NJ
REMOTE JUDGING
League Tournament Judging (Remote)
The diagram below shows the schedule. The timing aligns closely to that experienced at January’s Practice Judging events.
Note – While two Conferences undergo Remote Judging within the same period, the Judging Panels, Deliberations, and sets of Awards are totally separate!
COMPETITION NEWS
Google Group Queuing
More and more of our venues are utilizing Google Group to assist with Queuing and to send other important event messages to teams.
Look for the QR code that is pre-printed on your Team’s Pit Sign or ask the host about it. Use your smart phone and stay well informed!
Meet Results
While we are not having formal Closing Ceremonies at our Meets, a summary of results is available shortly after event completion.
Anyone can go to FTC Event Web : Home (firstinspires.org) to see as all event results from all regions.
Worlds Allocations for FTCNJ
FIRST advised us that New Jersey’s FTC region will receive three advancements to the FTC World Championship.
State Championship – Sunday, March 6th
The FTC New Jersey State Championship will be held at Morris Knolls High School, one week after our final League Tournament.
FTCNJ STEM Girls
February Get-Together - Feb. 24th ßAccomplished.
This month, the STEM Girls emphasized Neuroscience.
It was one of our most popular career choices to explore. The session included two fabulous women Guest Speakers!
Dr. Dorothy Flood and Dr. Antonella Scaglione!
· Dr. Flood has worked as a principal consultant in the pharmaceutical industry for 20+ years on drug discoveries for neurodegenerative disorders
· Dr. Scaglione has recently begun working for Johnson & Johnson with research experience on neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
Greetings from the Motivate Team:
Thank you to the M-Team members who hosted "Bandana & Bling" Sessions at many of the January Meets!
STEM Girls be sure to wear your bandanas at the continuing League Tournaments!
For any girls interested, it’s not too late to join the STEM Girls community!
Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfca5j11yjtAW6OJmRzbbwKyrSOrt8a5tty9SojZkwYLJLvCw/viewform
FTCNJ News
In Search of a Field
FTC Team 479 (NYC) is asking if any team would like to sell their used perimeter walls
They are preparing for the NYC Championships on March 6th and their DIY field perimeters walls are causing them problems.
The team would be willing to handle any shipping/pick-up costs, as necessary.
If there are any teams out there who can sell or loan Team #479 the needed walls, please contact vfras...@aol.com
Thanks
Hopefully, this Communique has provided a lot of good information regarding the coming season. (New in blue! Hot in Yellow Highlight!)
Our next newsletter will be on March 1st.
If you have any questions, comments, or needs as you read this newsletter, simply write back and I’ll be happy to assist.
Making that comment here, rather than embedding it throughout the long newsletter above.
Thanks again for the interest in FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey and being part of our community
Thanks much, Vince Frascella
FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey