From September 19 to 20, seniors Megan Guttieri and Miriam Melendez participated in the Chezy Championships in Fresno, reaching the semifinals and winning the overall Programming Award. They competed as part of the Friarbots team, Servite High School’s robotics team. This is because Long Beach Poly’s FIRST robotics team could not compete due to last-minute complications. This did not deter Guttieri and Melendez, however; they still powered on through and found alternative ways to participate in robotics competitions. Chezy Champs has teams from all over the nation test their robots in a series of challenges. 35 different teams competed for the top prize, participating in events like Recycle Rush, where two alliances of three robots are pitted against each other. Other games involve shooting basketballs, climbing a seven-foot pyramid, and stacking totes. In order to win, teams must be strategic, have structurally sound robots, and communicate well. It is evident that the Friarbots possess all three qualities, for they emerged as semifinalists and winner of the Programming Award. “Chezy Champs is an inspiring experience because it provides students the opportunity to experience new things, fix old problems, and have a friendly environment,” said Thena Guttieri. For the past two years, the Friarbots have made it to the world championships in St. Louis. This year they were they were the Regional Winners at the Arizona West Regional and Quarterfinalists in the Curie division.
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