ShoreBots robotics team wins Engineering Inspiration Award

ShoreBots pictured with Alliance 2 Teammates as Event Runners Up 

Captains Grayson Brown and Abby Zodun with the Event Finalist Trophy and Engineering Inspiration Award 

L to R Brycen Joseph, Grayson Brown, Abby Zodun, Reid Travis, Tempie Stamer, Bear McCormick

ShoreBots Team 1908, Northampton High School’s robotics team traveled to Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Va for week 3 of the FIRST Chesapeake District Competition season Saturday and Sunday. The ShoreBots finished the qualification round ranked 13 of 30 teams after very tough qualification matches. 1908 was selected as the first pick of Alliance 2 for the playoffs. 

Along with alliance captain Team 4099, The Falcons of Poolesville, MD, and Team 6326 Baltimore Bolts of Baltimore, MD, The ShoreBots dominated the playoffs winning all three playoff matches to advance to the finals. Along with their alliance partners The ShoreBots fought hard but lost two finals matches and finished the competition as the runners up.

Not only did they win on the field, 1908 also won the Engineering Inspiration Award, a judged award celebrating a team who demonstrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.  The team attributes this award win to their demonstration and outreach with our “skillet throwing” robot at the ESVA Chamber’s annual Agricultural Fair and the outreach they completed with the community at the fair. We loved the opportunity to open our workshop’s doors and showcase our passion for engineering with our community at the fair! 

At the conclusion of the competition The ShoreBots Team 1908 was listed as ranked #7 of 72 in Virginia, #12 of 119 in the District (DC/MD/VA), #243 of 2,976 in the US, and #300  of 3,768 in the World by Statbotics.  

The ShoreBots Team 1908 is captained by senior Abby Zodun and co-captained by senior Grayson Brown.  Other team members are seniors Reid Travis, Tempie Stamer, Weylin Malik, sophomore Brycen Joseph, and rookie member 8th grader Bear McCormick. 

The ShoreBots are sponsored by NASA Wallops, Northampton County Public Schools, ACE Hardware Exmore, Modern Hoopla, Gene Haas Foundation, Northampton County,  and Eastern Shore Signs.  The ShoreBots were founded by mentors Rodney Walker and the late James Goldstine 21 years ago. Throughout their 21 year history they have had numerous mentors and students on the team and want to thank them all for building the foundation of the program.  

This one’s for Jim. 

The ShoreBots are now qualified for the FIRST Chesapeake District Tournament at Virginia State University April 9-12.  This event features the top 54 teams in the district (VA/MD/DC).  The ShoreBots currently hold the 3rd highest rank in the District going into the last week of qualifying competition.