This past Saturday, May 1st, the Lytle High School Robo Pirates traveled to Lutheran High School in San Antonio to compete in the only in-person event of league play this year. The team had previously completed judging interviews online and there was nothing remaining except to get on the competition field playing a game that involved shooting rings into a tower of soccer-style goals. Our team was represented by Junior Isabella Lopez and Sophomores Anthony Jimenez and Alex Medina. Isabella, having no prior programming experience, went out of her comfort zone and took up the challenge of writing the code to control this year’s robot. Anthony and Alex were returning as builders but had to step into the role of heads of that department for the first time and utilized a new drivetrain style that allowed for movement in any direction without having to turn the robot. The design was streamlined and elegant. Given a normal build season, the robot would have proven a formidable competitor at any level of competition. The highlight of the day took place in the 3rd match, which resulted in a win thanks to an autonomous program that Isabella wrote during the lunch break and a buzzer beater shot by Anthony to score the decisive points. The trio went 3-2 in the afternoon and should be proud of the effort they put in. 

The Robo Pirates did not rank high enough in the final standings and brought home no awards but no matter the results this season counts as a success simply for being able to compete well and not lose an entire year to the pandemic. Continuity and persistence are keys to success and this team will be back and stronger than ever next season.