LIFE

Turner, Stayton students advance to regional robotics competition

Justin Much

Statesman Journal

Ratchet Robotics Team 6590, a group of 8 game teenagers from the Stayton, Aumsville and Turner area, tuned up for the Oregon State Championships in Hillsboro and earned a berth in the FTC West Super Regional competition in Spokane. Pictured with "Chet" the bot, front row, left to right, Marnie Schmidt, Clifford Gamble, Ben Sawyer. Back row, Reese Cureton, Dylan Huffer, adviser Doug Schmidt, Vance Burgess, Javon Baquet, Haley Corpier.

A group of eight middle-school students, their adviser and a robot they created named “Chet” will be heading up to Spokane after squeaking out a berth to the FTC West Super Regional robotics competitions.

Ratchet Robotics Team 6590 consists of four Cascade Junior High students, two Stayton Middle School students and two area home-schoolers, a young group that competes with teams of high school age.

Team adviser Doug Schmidt said the group most recently competed in the Timber Division of the Oregon State Championships held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. They finished 5th in their division, 14th overall – and the top 14 teams qualified for regional advancement.

Edging into that final slot provided an electrifying moment for the Ratchet contingent.

“There was a lot of excitement: moms were crying and kids were jumping with joy,” Schmidt said.

The feat put the Ratchet crew right back to work. Schmidt said they normally meet in Aumsville two or three days a week, but when the competitions heat up, they meet more frequently and accelerate their focus to prepare.

Ratchet has been competing over the past four years, beginning with meetings in August and then hands-on work after the “challenge” is delivered, which was Sept. 9 for this competitive season. The team shares its digs with another area robotic stalwart, Hotwire Robotics.

"Oregon has the third largest amount of FTC robotics teams in the United States; 200 teams started the season in Oregon and only 14 advance to the FTC West Super-Regional Championship," Schmidt noted.

Ratchet leaves March 8 for the Spokane regional, which will include 72 teams from 12 states. Learn more about the team on Ratchet Robotics 6590 Facebook page.

More:Ratchet Robotics Team 6590

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Reese Cureton checks out the parts prior to practice. Ratchet Robotics Team 6590, a group of 8 game teenagers from the Stayton, Aumsville and Turner area, tuned up for the Oregon State Championships in Hillsboro and earned a berth in the FTC West Super Regional competition in Spokane.

Ben Sawyer and Reese Cureton work on the Robot. Ratchet Robotics Team 6590, a group of 8 game teenagers from the Stayton, Aumsville and Turner area, tuned up for the Oregon State Championships in Hillsboro and earned a berth in the FTC West Super Regional competition in Spokane.

Clifford Gamble and Dylan Huffer check out the scoring reach of "Chet" the robot. Ratchet Robotics Team 6590, a group of 8 game teenagers from the Stayton, Aumsville and Turner area, tuned up for the Oregon State Championships in Hillsboro and earned a berth in the FTC West Super Regional competition in Spokane.

Tuning up the bot: Ratchet Robotics Team 6590, a group of 8 game teenagers from the Stayton, Aumsville and Turner area, tuned up for the Oregon State Championships in Hillsboro and earned a berth in the FTC West Super Regional competition in Spokane.