Sterling High School’s robotics team was thrilled but also anxious after months of preparations to compete at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. and in Arlington Heights, Ill. With new members, the team was able to work even harder to perfect their robot.  The team experienced some troubles with the mechanics when testing their robot before the competition at Bradley University but with perseverance, they were able to fix the flaws and get the robot working how they intended it. Despite all the issues that they experienced with the robot, the team finished two matches away from finals.

  Sophomore Gewelious Jenkins shared, “Our main goals for this season was to make a robot complex and versatile to achieve personal goals that challenge our experience, determination, and creativity throughout the season.”

  Sterling won their first and second match, but lost their third match at the Arrington Heights competition. Throughout this competition, the team faced a multitude of mishaps such as the robot accidentally being rammed into the trenches, the shooter popped off which caused the team to pause their run through, the motors and churros being dented, and the wires being messed up. 

  Senior Ross Eden stated, “Our goals for the season were to be able to score balls in the hubs and to be able to climb, as well as upgrading our swerve drive with new motors, and finishing our newly designed pits.”

  The team was picked for the fifth alliance which is when the top eight teams pick who they want as their teammates at the end of the matches.​​ They ended the competition being paced in the 20s but despite this ranking, the team was proud of themselves for persevering through all the obstacles they faced during the competition and are looking forward to what next season will hold.