The first-year Mercer Island High School Robotics team made a successful debut at a recent regional event at Auburn Mountainview High School.

After 12 matches against FIRST Robotics teams from around the Northwest, MIHS was selected in an alliance with the second-ranked team in a single-elimination tournament. Their alliance finished in second place, making the Islanders a finalist and they were awarded a trophy and medals.

“Congratulations to the team on bringing home awards in its first competition,” said Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano. “They have been putting in long hours getting ready and we are proud of them. I appreciate the leadership and support their teacher, coach and mentor, Sam Gadbury offers them.”

The team is currently ranked ninth in the FIRST Robotics District after week one, and will be looking to improve its placing prior to the district event in Cheney, Washington April 8-10.

In this year’s matches, two alliances of three robots each are on a quest to breach their opponents’ fortifications, weaken their tower with boulders and capture the opposing tower. Robots score points by breaching opponents’ defenses and scoring boulders through goals in the opposing tower. During the final 20 seconds of the match, robots may surround and scale the opposing tower to capture it.