Harvey School's Robotics Team Posts Second-Place Finish in State Contest

The Harvey School’s Robotics team finished in second place over the weekend at the Vex Robotics Southern New York State Championship at East Rockaway High School, East Rockaway.

Three robots made by students from the Katonah-based school competed in the event, and Team A, which collaborated with students from Farmingdale High school, was the one to come in second.

From a press release about the school’s finish:

Harvey had three robots qualify for states, resulting in three teams competing in six preliminary round matches each. Team A went undefeated at 6-0, and ranked #1 after the preliminary round. Team B was ranked #3 with a 5-1 record. Team C had some bad luck and finished at #19 with a 3-3 record. Representing Harvey on Team A were Jared Finkel, Dillon Singleton and Will Gaynor. Team B was Mark Siegel, Hannah Herrera and Lauren Suna. Team C was Charlie Albert, Marshall Euchner and Jarrod Waner.

The top eight teams, including Harvey’s A and B teams, chose partners to alliance with for the afternoon elimination rounds. Team A’s members, selecting first, chose Farmingdale High School as their partners. Team B, choosing third, decided to partner with Harvey’s Team C.

Team A opened up its best of three matches with two decisive wins over Adelphi and Jericho. Meanwhile, Team B & C began their match with a close 46-43 loss to Malverne and Massapequa, and followed it up with another close contest, losing 49-41 and suffering elimination in the quarter finals

Team A competed in the semifinals against another team from Jericho and The Masters School. The first of the best of three matches went to Harvey and Farmingdale 42-16. Jericho and Masters rallied for a 47-29 win. The rubber match went to the Harvey and Farmingdale team in a close 45-35 win.

In the finals, Harvey and Farmingdale competed against the very strong alliance of Malverne and Massapequa, which had eliminated Harvey’s Team B and Team C earlier. Harvey and Farmingdale lost the first match 59-39, and the second match by a much closer 48-41, making the Harvey and Farmingdale team the runnerup for the state championship. Team B won a judges award by winning the skills challenge and for having great design, match scores and documentation.

Technology director, John Wahlers, one of the Harvey team’s two advisers, marvels at what his students have accomplished in such a short period of time. “One month ago, Harvey competed in its first robotics tournament. Two weeks ago, they won their second tournament, and Saturday, they nearly won the state title. It’s a remarkable show of the students’ dedication and talent, to make such progress in such a short period of time.”

Co-adviser Chris Kelly, a math and science teacher, said, “The robotics program has been a rewarding experience on many levels. Obviously I am very pleased with our success. Some of the team members stayed until 8 and 9 p.m. on weeknights and came to school on off days to work. This is a case where hard work and determination paid off.”

Harvey hopes to organize a trip to Create US Open National Tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa, April 7-9.

Photo 1: Harvey School sophomore Jarrod Waner of South Salem and junior Lauren Suna of Larchmont present their robotic creation to the judges who awarded their Team B an award in the skills challenge at the Robotics Southern New York State Championship at East Rockaway High School, East Rockaway, New York. Harvey’s Team A was the runnerup in the overall statewide competition.

Photo 2: (left to right) Harvey School senior Marshall Euchner of Waccabuc and junior Charlie Albert of Katonah work to get their team’s robot ready for judging Saturday, March 7, at the Vex Robotics Southern New York State Championship at East Rockaway High School, East Rockaway, New York. One of Harvey’s three teams was the runnerup in the statewide competition.

Photo 3: Harvey senior Dillon Singleton of Mount Kisco explains his team’s robot design to the judges at the Vex Robotics Southern New York State Championship at East Rockaway High School, East Rockaway, New York. One of Harvey’s three teams was the runnerup in the statewide competition.

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