An energized “Team Gear Freeze”, comprised of eleven HF-L Middle School students, took first place on December 6 at the University of Rochester where they were named as the “Regional Champions” in the Greater Finger Lakes region. They competed against 100 local teams to achieve their championship status. The students and their mentors will be traveling to the FIRST Lego League Robotics International Competition in Atlanta this coming April.  FIRST is the acronym For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.  In addition to the excitement and recognition the students derive from their work with robotics and engineering principles, the final prize in Atlanta will be awards of college scholarships.

The eleven Team members are:  Tyler Gushue, Conner Gushue, James Patton, Mackenzie Ulrop, Peter Carosa,  Killian Coddington, Yauri Yakovlev, Nathan Miller, Jake Blumenstock, Ryan Jackson and Avarie Stevens.  They were guided in their robotics efforts by HF-L Advisor, Hoa Tran, and mentored by Head Coach, Chris Carosa.  Bonnie Coddington and Mike Gushue served as Assistant Coaches.  A team of adult Mentors also supported Team Gear Freeze, including:  Tom Jackson, Ron Stevens, Nina Yakovlev, Lori Patton, Kurt Ulrop and Brain Smith.  Funding for their Team efforts is supported through the Mendon Foundation. 

Team Gear Freeze had local expert support in their preparation for the competition when a panel of Honeoye Falls GM Fuel Cell engineers grilled them on the operation of their robot model, appropriately named “The Pumpinator”.   When asked what the students planned to do with the water by-product of their fuel cell model, they articulated a well-engineered plan to redirect the water as windshield fluid.  The panel was impressed.  Advisor, Hoa Tran, credits the GM Fuel Cell panel for helping to stretch student thinking in preparation for the challenging rounds of competition and probing questions asked by judges at the December 6 event.