After a quick turnaround of events, GVHS's Robotics Club found itself with an unexpected opportunity. Having two sister teams, the team was ecstatic when Team 3795, Jag-Wired, qualified for the Pennsylvania FTC Championship, the first time since 2019. Unfortunately, with time constraints, they had to drop out of the competition; however, despite the odds, Team 5440 Blazin' Circuits, was next in line as a qualifying team! With only a two-day notice, the club diligently persevered and prepared to represent the school.

Held on March 14th and 15th, the Pennsylvania FTC Championship brought together 40 of the top teams that qualified across the state. Not only did the competition coincide with National Pi Day, but it was a two-day competition. The team competed in one match on Saturday before returning Sunday for three additional qualification matches.

Their strong performance earned them a spot in the playoffs as an alliance captain, an achievement that allowed them to select their own partner team for the few additional matches that would follow. After deliberating for over an hour, Blazin' Circuits chose Team 14423 Robocorns from Great Valley High School, forming a competitive alliance.

While their run concluded in the playoff rounds, the team's performance secured them an unbelievable 10th place finish in the state of PA! This accomplishment was made even more meaningful by the fact that Garnet Valley had not qualified for the state championship since 2019, let alone placed so high. This milestone reflects the team's dedication, resilience, and growth throughout the season.

In addition to competing members of Team 5440, several members of Team 3795 contributed to the event as volunteers, supporting our club until the end. By placing 10th, Blazin' Circuits qualified for the Premier Nationals Event in Massachusetts scheduled for April 17th and 18th. Although the team ultimately decided not to attend due to logisitcal, and technical constraints, the qualification itself is worth it all!

The weekend concluded on a celebratory note with a stop at Wawa for milkshakes. Looking ahead, members are preparing for officer elections and an end-of-the-year party on March 24th.

As Head of Management and Finance, I look forward to all that the younger members will do once the seniors graduate, and I'm beyond proud of the time and effort everyone has invested this year. If you know those who competed, please congratulate them! Even better, also follow our Instagram to see all our accomplishments this year (@gvhs_robotics).