South Dade High Robotics Performs Well at International Competition

The South Dade Senior High School Robotics Team competed well at the FIRST Championship at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

The event brought about 50,000 people from 66 nations together to compete and share ideas and expertise on robotics.

Shawn Waring, coach of the Bucs Robotics team, said he was proud of the team and the tremendous effort students made throughout the competition.

“Our students had the opportunity to compete alongside teams we’ve admired for years, including the number one team in the world. They gained invaluable knowledge through networking with students, mentors and industry professionals throughout the event,” Waring said.

He said the Bucs faced strong competition and had to overcome various obstacles during the event.

“Despite facing one of the toughest match schedules and being predicted to lose every match, our team showed outstanding determination. They overcame major mechanical challenges, including significant repairs and a full system rewiring,” Waring said.

The Bucs even beat the odds by securing a win and helping score more than 700 points in a match. And it was not all about competition. Team members met with representatives from Raytheon and the United States Navy, which led to new sponsorship commitments from SolidWorks and the U.S. Navy for next season.

“We were also proud to serve as ambassadors for the state of Florida, sharing custom-made buttons with every Florida team at the event,” Waring said.

When the championship finals began, the Bucs were front and center, cheering on their partners and even appearing on camera multiple times.

“Throughout the entire trip, our students demonstrated that there truly is ‘No peer to a Buccaneer.’ They represented our school and community with pride, resilience and enthusiasm,” Waring said.

The South Dade robotics team has achieved success over the years, and Waring continues to build the program.