Kinetic Knights and Alliance teams win FIRST district championship in Barrie

The Kinetic Knights (FRC Team 781) robotics team of Kincardine and its Alliance teams took the championship banner at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) district robotics competition, held on the weekend at Georgian College in Barrie.

This year's challenge, “Destination Deep Space,” featured rockets and cargo ships. The robots were required to attach hatch panels on these ships and fill them with cargo in order to score points – all while defending their turf against the opposing side.

After qualifying matches, Team 781 was sitting in 21^st place out of 26 teams, with five wins and seven losses.

During Alliance selection for elimination rounds, the Kinetic Knights were chosen as the second pick to join Alliance 1, with FRC Team 1305 – Ice Cubed of North Bay, and FRC Team 4476 – the W.A.F.F.L.E.S. of Kingston.

Alliance 1 defeated Alliance 8 two games straight in the quarter-finals and advanced to the semi-finals, where it downed Alliance 4, also in two games straight, advancing to the finals against Alliance 2.

In the finals, Alliance 1, consisting of the Kinetic Knights, Ice Cubed and W.A.F.F.L.E.S., faced Alliance 2, consisting of FRC Team 1325 - Inverse Paradox of Mississauga, FRC Team 4903 – the Mustangs of Windsor, and FRC Team 7664 – rookie team Big Celtic 6 of Guelph.

Alliance 1 lost the first game, but roared back with some awesome defence by Team 781, to win the second match by an amazing 68-67 score.

This led to the tie-breaker game which ended 77-67 in favour of the Kinetic Knights, Ice Cubed and W.A.F.F.L.E.S., giving them the game and the championship banner.

The Kinetic Knights will compete at their second district event, April 5-7, at the University of Western Ontario in London. If they qualify for the Ontario championships, they will travel to Mississauga April 10-13, and if they qualify there, they advance to the worlds in Detroit, Michigan, April 24-27.



The Kinetic Knights (FRC Team 781) drive team (in green shirts at right), joins the drive teams of its Alliance teammates, FRC Team 4476 (left), the W.A.F.F.L.E.S. of Kingston, and FRC Team 1305, Ice Cubed of North Bay, with the championship banners at the FIRST district robotics competition, held on the weekend at Georgian College in Barrie; photo courtesy of the Kinetic Knights