Robbinsville High School hosted its second annual FIRST Robotics Competition from March 14-16, where the school’s own team, Nemesis 2590, emerged victorious.
The competition, which featured an “underwater” theme this year, challenged teams to have their robots pick up PVC pipes and place them on pegs at increasing heights, earning more points the higher they placed the pipes.
Nemesis 2590, a team of 65 Robbinsville students led by adviser and school alumnus Anthony Heulitt, engineered a robot that outperformed the competition.
“It’s been great watching this team learn and grow over the course of the year,” Heulitt said. “Both in and out of competition, the students are committed to building their skill sets in all facets of robotics and are an absolute pleasure to work with.”
After securing first place seeding in the qualifying round, Nemesis 2590 selected two other teams, one from West Windsor and one from South Plainfield, to form an alliance for the elimination round. The trio claimed the championship title together.
Beyond their success in the competition, Nemesis 2590 also earned the prestigious “Engineering Inspiration Award,” which recognizes teams that go above and beyond to promote STEM within their community.
Robbinsville High School Principal Molly Avery praised the team’s accomplishments: “I’m consistently impressed by what this group is able to accomplish and look forward to seeing their further success.”
The team’s victory means they will advance to the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship in Lehigh, Pennsylvania, from April 2-5.
“Nemesis 2590’s incredible performance at this year’s local FRC is a testament to the ingenuity and diligence of our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Patrick Pizzo. “I am pleased at the passion and perseverance the team displayed on their way to victory and I wish them the best of luck at the district championship.”
