On Saturday, March 20, in an outstanding display of teamwork and skill, the Northern Force, FIRST Robotics Team 172, which comprises students from Gorham and Falmouth High Schools, clinched not one, but two major victories at the FIRST Robotics New England Regional Competition at the University of New Hampshire. Partnering with Team 133, “B.E.R.T.” (Bonny Eagle Robotics Team), from Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, and Team 1350, “The Rambots,” from Providence, Rhode Island, the alliance was ranked 4th going into the playoffs, and were undefeated throughout the finals.
The team’s accomplishments did not stop at winning the event. They also secured the Impact Award, a recognition that underscores the essence of a successful team—innovation, organization, and gracious professionalism both in competition and within the community. This award, previously known as the Chairman’s Award, highlights the team’s comprehensive excellence beyond their engineering achievements. Their redemption story, from a modest performance at the Pine Tree District Event on March 15-17 to triumph at UNH, speaks volumes of their determination and growth.
This achievement has significantly boosted their ranking to 23rd among nearly 200 teams in the New England District, solidifying their position and qualifying them for the New England District Championships.
Photo credit: Luke HankinsZeke Lockman, Nathaniel Hankins and Sam Merrow, the drive team for Team 172, watch as “Crabby” scores a game piece in the high goal.
Founded in 1996 by Roger Lord, a former Gorham High School teacher, and further developed in partnership with John Kraljic of Falmouth High School in 2001, the team has enjoyed the support of professional engineers from IDEXX, local parents, and the community. Kraljic, reflecting on his two decades of coaching, says, “Robotics programs offer opportunities to students that are not found in the school curriculum. Students work alongside professionals (engineers, programmers, designers, teachers and business people) who mentor them to design and build robots but also to build life-long skills in leadership, communication, budgeting/ finance, planning and teamwork.”
The team benefits from the extensive experience of Clare and Meredith Greenlaw, leaders in STEM and manufacturing, who aim to provide students with diverse role models in technology sectors. Clare, Dean of the Graduate MBA program at Southern New Hampshire University, and Meredith, Senior Planning Manager at IDEXX, both strive to prepare students for future challenges by fostering essential skills and competencies.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions challenge students to blend creativity, technical skills, and teamwork to design, build, and program robots for competitive play under the guidance of volunteer professional mentors. It represents the pinnacle of real-world engineering experience for students, detailed further at firstinspires.org.
Congratulations to Northern Force, B.E.R.T., and The Rambots for their remarkable achievements and for inspiring future generations in the fields of science and technology.