A Recap of the Bash at the Beach

A+Recap+of+the+Bash+at+the+Beach

The Bash at the Beach is an annual beach-themed event hosted at Lyme-Old Lyme High School (Team 236, the Techno Ticks) for the FIRST Robotics teams of Connecticut. It happens early in the school year as a way for students to use their previous year’s robot one last time. This year, it happened on October 13, 2018.

Prior to the Bash at the Beach, tables needed to be moved, the field needed to be set up, and signs needed to be put up. Thanks to the help of dozens of kids, parents, and mentors, we were able to get nearly everything set up the night before the event. I was able to attend and work the sound system with another member of the robotics team. We played music and handed out pins that were given to us by the Aetos Dios, team 7153, to commemorate Mr. Derry’s 20 years of robotics.

Speeches from Mr. Gentry and Mr. Derry kicked everything off, followed by qualification rounds. There are three teams on an alliance and one round consists of two alliances (red and blue) going head to head. Each team competed about five times, resulting in 17 rounds. The Techno Ticks won once and lost four times. During one round, a robot on the Red Alliance fell over and the robots on its team tried and failed to lift it up. This resulted in the lowest recorded score of the day at 32 points. In a typical match, an alliance will end with about 350 points. As everyone cheered them on, the drivers stood in the pit and took pictures of their toppled-over robot. I was very disappointed to discover that no robots were escorted out on a stretcher. A short break for lunch ensued, followed by the rest of the qualification rounds and the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

In the end, Team 2168 (the FullMetal Falcons), Team 2067 (Apple Pi), and Team 1991 (Dragons) won. However, the award for gracious professionalism, one of the biggest parts of robotics, went to Team 230, the GaleHawks.