Nov. 30, 2021 - Five of Comal ISD’s nine robotics teams advanced to the Texas BEST/UIL State Championship after competing in the local San Antonio BEST Robotics qualifying meet which took place virtually Nov. 5-6.
Teams advancing to the UIL State Championship – BEST Robotics Division Dec. 2-4 in Frisco, include Canyon Lake High School, coached by Patrick Fallin; Hill Country College Preparatory High School, coached by Rena Keinrath; Pieper High School, coached by Fallin; Spring Branch Middle School, coached by Sarah Burkhardt and Clinton Trowbridge; and Smithson Valley High School, coached by Benjamin Lagueux.
In the BEST award category, SBMS came in second place to advance to the state competition. The results of this award are based on the combination of scores from the team’s notebook, marketing presentation, virtual exhibit and interview and robot performance.
Additionally, the SBMS team received three $500 cash scholarships provided by the Alamo AFCEA for placing second.
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) presented the Smithson Valley Middle School team with the SAME award. This award is given to the team that demonstrates the most initiative, cohesiveness and overall excellence in all facets of competition. The SVMS team is coached by Allison Hallmark.
The other Comal ISD robotics teams which competed in the SA BEST meet were from Davenport High School, Memorial Early College High School and Pieper Ranch Middle School.
This year’s BEST theme is “Demo Daze,” challenging teams of five to 10 students to design a robot that will demolish and move a building from a site while installing safety and security measures, separating and recovering recyclables and reusable materials and removing trash from the site. The teams must also be sure not to disturb certain items at the site during the demolition including trees.
Congratulations!
-Members of the Pieper High School robotics team include those pictured from left: Diego Malone, Jacob Fuess, Emilio Toledo, Austin Hubert and Mya Galvan. Not pictured, Ryan Southworth.
-The Canyon Lake High School robotics team which is advancing to state includes members pictured from left: Regina Suarez, Kevin Mendoza, Gabriel George, Jacob Reed, Byron Plummer and James Garza. Not pictured are Erick Ortiz-Salgado and Kayden Quezada.
-A few members of the state-bound Robotics team from Spring Branch Middle School are pictured from left, Katherine Hartanto, Alex Haider, Kylee Vanasdall, James Berry, Hudson Chilton, Juan Quintanilla and Austin Crowder.
-The Smithson Valley Middle School Gearheads robotics team was presented with the SAME award at the San Antonio BEST Robotics competition. Pictured are the following team members.
Front row from left: Jay DeYoung, Ashley Dudzikowski, Austin Ciaravino, Brielle Jang, Luke Ringlein, Nickolas Ciaravino and Thomas Morgan. Second row from left: Luke Smith, Jordan Wolfe, Humberto Rodriguez, Kyle Lapp, Anna Larson, Caleb Real, Rady Torres, Liam DeYoung, Ean Bowmer, Coleman Millien and Weston Packer.
Back row from left: Coach Allison Hallmark, Austin Hobbs, Geoffrey Guyer, Marlo Ringlein, Adrian Scott, Samuel Castillo, Grant Froboese, Alejandro Davila, Weston Eiserman, Sam Wroblewski, Jamison Oliver, Breck Leon, Jack Jurica, Sam Hall, Oliver Goodman, Lilly Hall and Zakry Vance.
Team members not pictured include Emmett Livingston, Marshall Schiel, Zach Norton, Miles Hoch, Augustus Borchelt, Billy Garrett, Gerrit VanDerValk IV, Jake Miller, Finnley Greissinger and Frank Solansky.