Despite facing rigorous challenges and unexpected setbacks, the Jesuit FRC Robotics Team has emerged from the season with heads held high, showcasing their resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit. Under the guidance of their dedicated mentor and coach, Mr. Couvillon, the team embarked on a journey marked by both triumphs and tribulations, proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of robotics.
Led by the new captains Neel Manne ‘25 and Ian Vicens ‘25, the team demonstrated exceptional talent, teamwork, and adaptability throughout the season. With only nine members and the departure of seasoned seniors, the team faced a daunting task of filling the void and stepping up to the challenge. However, despite losing about half of their old team and experience, they nevertheless persisted throughout their tough journey, working relentlessly for months, learning new skills, and taking over for the seniors who had left an outstanding and inspiring mark on the students. The new team was able to successfully fabricate, design, wire, and program their own unique robot which could overcome every obstacle the game needed from us too with the help of the alumni Joseph Amador ‘23. Under Joseph’s guidance, the team was able to develop their programming skills and be able to compete adequately in their district matches. “The team will eternally be grateful for the alumni that decided to support us throughout our new journey this coming season. We really look forward to continue working with our past teammates as we grow and expand our technical prowess. We really wouldn’t be able to compete as well as we did without the gracious help we received,” says Stavy Gonzales ’27.
District Tournament: Waco
Their first district tournament took place in Waco, where the team showcased their strengths on the field, dominating their qualification matches, placing 5th in the qualification matches, thus securing them as the Alliance captain for the 3rd seed alliance. The teams they were up against were experienced in the strategy and gameplay necessary to win in this competition. Despite the challenging circumstances, the Rangers remained focused and determined. They approached each match with a clear plan, using their extensive knowledge of their robot’s capabilities and their opponent’s weaknesses to gain an advantage. They communicated effectively with their alliance members, adjusting their strategies on the fly to adapt to changing circumstances and unforeseen challenges. However, a series of unfortunate events, including connectivity issues due to a faulty breaker, marred their final match, ultimately landing them in 6th place. After intense amounts of strategizing with their alliance members Team Alpha and Robo Pop, they won their first elimination match 63-50 against the 6th seed alliance. However, after a close loss in their second elimination match, the robot had developed many connectivity issues like a faulty breaker from its hard collisions, leaving their robot broken during their final match, giving them 6th place in the Waco district tournament. Despite the robot’s breakdown in their final match, this tournament served as a testament to the team’s newly developed skills as they had gone very far in their first ever tournament without their seniors on the team.
“Yeah, it was a little rough out there, but we really tried our best, and at the end of the day it is what is. Unfortunately, you know, problems arise and we can’t always control what comes our way. We have definitely progressed so much as a relatively new team, and I believe we’ve come a long way. This was our first tournament without our seniors from last year who did a lot for us and helped us reach great heights the year before. We had a very successful tournament in the end and I know that there is a lot more to come than what we have shown in Waco this week. I think we did pretty amazing out there considering all the problems we had to face. Obviously, I expect only the best from the boys and I think we can accomplish a lot more than we have this week. Overall, the tournament was lots of fun and I’m proud that we were able to bring home a trophy for the creativity award that we won.”
District Tournament: Plano
After their first district event in Waco, the team spent countless hours analyzing data, testing and tweaking their robot and honing their driving skills. Undeterred by setbacks from Waco, the team regrouped and redoubled their efforts for the Plano District Tournament, where they swept the competition in the qualification matches. The second member of the 5th seed alliance, the Rangers emerged as a formidable force on the field, with the key to their success being their exceptional driving skills. The team had spent countless hours practicing their driving, working to develop the speed, precision, and control necessary to execute complex maneuvers under pressure after their tournament in Waco. Their dedication and hard work paid off during the elimination matches, where they made quick work of their opponents and secured one of the fastest cycle times in the entire event. In addition to their driving skills, the team’s well-coordinated teamwork was also a critical factor in their success. Each member of the team had a specific role to play, and they worked seamlessly together to achieve their goals. They communicated clearly and effectively, supporting each other and making sure that everyone was on the same page. However, in their final elimination match, their alliance members faced harsh challenges with their robot’s radio connection, and with one team’s drive base not working as intended, they ended up losing to the 6th seed alliance, placing 10th at the FIRST in Plano district event. Although they didn’t place as high as they would’ve liked, their outstanding performance at the Plano event secured them a spot in the FIRST in Texas State Championship in Houston.
The State Championship
As they head to the state championship after their successful district tournaments, the Jesuit FRC Robotics Team focused on continuing their success and representing their school with pride. “We know the competition will be like nothing we have ever seen before, but we are proud of the hard work we’ve put in,” said Ian. The team is grateful for the support of their coaches and families, and is looking forward to the challenge of competing at the state level.”
During the stressful qualification stage in the State Championship, the team encountered unforeseen challenges with the robot’s autonomous function. They were unfazed by setbacks and quickly came together, exhibiting amazing perseverance and adaptability. The team members methodically dissected and adjusted the robot’s code over the course of many hours on the practice field. When they successfully debugged code and overcame the challenges thanks to their perseverance and teamwork, other problems arose time after time. Additionally, the team had a tough match schedule, constantly having to play against the top 6 Texas teams throughout each of their matches. After the team’s hard work and dedication, they placed 32nd in the qualification stage.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, the Jesuit FRC Robotics Team is more determined than ever to reach new heights of excellence. “Even though we didn’t make it to the elimination stage in the state championship, I believe this entire season was a very successful and motivating one, as this year was also the first time in about 5 years that the team has won an award at one of the tournaments. There were many problems and challenges that we faced as a relatively new team this year but we tackled them head on, learning from each mistake, evolving with every new change. This season has allowed us to form a strong and rigid structure within our team that we hope will greatly benefit us in the years to come. Everyone feels even more motivated, and we have decided to work extra-hard with the goal of making it to the World Championship next year after hopefully crushing the state championship competition. We look forward to an exciting new season with a new and fun match to dominate!” concludes Neel.
As they embark on a new season filled with promise and possibility, the Jesuit FRC Robotics Team stands ready to conquer new challenges with their indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment.
