By Stephen Smoot
At the same time as the best cagers converge on Charleston to battle for state titles, the JackBots robotics team from Moorefield High School has their sights set on a more global prize.
The team is coached by Bonnie Crites and Alicien Adams, both teachers at Moorefield Middle School. Both the middle school and the high school field teams for competition.
Summer Evans, a 10th grader at Moorefield High School, competes with the team. She explained that the team advanced from regional competition in Maryland. Half took place in Silver Springs, but inclement weather forced the conclusion of it to Edgewater.
“We got an Inspire Award,” she shared, explaining that this went to the most “well-rounded, a model team.” Moorefield’s JackBots demonstrated achievement in every field and took one of four district spots for the world championship in Houston.
Even more impressive, the district from which Moorefield emerged covers Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Not only is it the third largest district in the world, it also contains some of the most wealthy counties in the nation.
Nine subteams make up the full team. Each one attends to a specific role to advance the effort. Half of the teams work on the actual robotics, including engineering, programming, safety, controlling the robot, and a computer aided design group that serves as the machinists to create parts.
Four other subteams work under outreach. They work with the media, create a portfolio describing their work, put together fundraisers, and conduct other outreach, including social media.
This would be loosely like a high school sports team also putting together the playbook, calling plays, and serving all of the functions of the booster club.
Each team has the flexibility to create their own unique robot design, strategy, and tactics.
William Wojtowicz described how “late last year, we built this computer” to utilize “CAD software.” They use a type free for personal use to “create very detailed files” on the robot and each one of its components, including how it fits together.
“We also can model full systems” including the “prototype claw or intake systems that attach to the full chassis,” he explained while showing the models on screen.
Evans added that “we can design our robot to be versatile,” then described how the competition takes place. Robots and their controllers have the opportunity to use the machine to put objects in a basket or hang clips on a rail. Some teams design devices to do one or the other, but as Evans put it “we designed robots to work both sides of the field.”
Another example of their winning work came with outreach. They played a leading role in putting together a STEM (science, technology, and math education) festival at Eastern West Virginia Community College.
Evans, Wojtowicz and others who take on media relations responsibilities demonstrated strong communications and interview skills. Crites said “we practice interviews and presentations and communication skills. It’s a large part of what we do.”
Their most important work now, however, lies in completing the task of raising $40,000 to pay for the trip. Team members have put on five bake sales with more planned. A representative will attend local government meetings to present on the team and file a special funding request.
“We are halfway to our goal,” said Evans.
Crites shared the emotion of everyone involved, saying “it’s almost surreal that we won.” She added “it’s amazing, I’m so, so proud.”
Caden Berg, a ninth grade team member said “I was crying my eyes out!”
The 2025 FIRST championship will take place between April 16 and 19. Team members, supporters, and the entire community expect that the competition from across the globe will feel the Yellow Jacket sting as competition commences.
