As the school year nears the final climb, Robotics Team 329 “The Mohawks” racked up some additional pressure this past weekend as they headed to St. Louis, Missouri for World Championship of the FIRST Robotics Competition. After coming up just short at the Palmetto Regional, the Mohawks went on to win the SBPLI Long Island Regional in late March, punching their ticket to St. Louis once again. After rigorous preseason preparation, an intense six-week build season, and intricate post-build season fine tuning, 329 had the opportunity to fly to St. Louis to compete against robotics teams around the globe in this year’s game, FIRST Steamworks.

The Mohawks’ were put to the test during their stay in STL, facing stormy weather, tight hotel accommodations, overpriced chicken fingers … oh, and fierce competition, of course. Although the team came up short on the competition field, they made the best out of their stay, painting the city red (and black) throughout their visit. When they weren’t competing, the Mohawks could be found taking pictures at the Gateway Arch, dining at venues such as Sauce on the Side or Snarf’s (10/10 would recommend), or playing cards in the hotel lobby every night.

Unfortunately, the Mohawks’ robot came up short at the World Championship, due to some last-minute glitches and unpredictable mishaps. However, the Mohawks did not let the competition results get in the way of their experience. Showing some gracious professionalism, the team members swallowed their pride and accepted their fate. For many, this provided time to really soak in the vibes of the event. These moments were especially valuable to the senior members of the team, who realized that this was their last competition with 329. For Nathan Nguyen, a member of the programming team and this year’s driver, the experience “was truly breathtaking and being able to represent [the Mohawks] was truly an honor.” Nathan made sure to interact with as many teams as he could, trading pins and team t-shirts with participants from all over the world. As the driver, Nathan knew he could be held most responsible for both the robot’s strong and weak performances, yet he cherished his position. With the utmost humility, he accepted both praise and criticism throughout the season. Also pausing to reminisce was Edward O’Connor, a mechanical team member, Chairman’s presenter, and this year’s human player, who could be seen this year delivering the “gear” field elements to the on-field robots. Ed, who notoriously donned the iconic red mohawk during each season, described his final moments with the team as “surreal.” Ed easily became a leader on the team during his four-year journey and explained that the friendships that he has made over this quick high school experience are much more valuable than any win at competition. He finds it “amazing how this program is able to do that for people in such a short amount of time.”

All the seniors can agree that their time as Mohawks passed by extremely fast, whether on the team for four years or just one. We can also all agree that despite the wins or losses, we wouldn’t have had it any other way. I would like to personally commend our team and our community for its undying dedication and passion for FIRST Robotics. I am lucky to have been a part of an amazing flight and am grateful for all that I have learned, all whom I have met, and all that I have achieved during my time as a Mohawk. Nathan Nguyen could not have put it any better when he said, “Team 329 builds more than just robots, it builds bonds that will last a lifetime.”