GaCo 1629, a robotics coalition team from Garrett County, returned to Houston, Texas for the FIRST Championship, which hosts teams from all over the world in an elite competition. The team was inducted into the Hall of Fame during a “Flag Raising” ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. GaCo is the 34th team to be inducted over the 34 years that FIRST Robotics has been in existence. This is the result of winning the “Chairman’s Award” at the 2022 FIRST Championship. Garrett County Board of Education Member and GaCo Mentor, Josh Hinebaugh, was in attendance. Mr. Hinebaugh has been a mentor since GaCo’s rookie year in 2005.
Over the course of the 4-day event, the team interacted and shared about their program with dozens of teams. In addition to individual interactions, GaCo performed a session at the FIRST Conference which occurred as part of the Championship. The session was entitled “Making a Systemic Impact in your School and School System” and it was very well attended and well received by participants. Southern Garrett senior Natalie Warne led the presentation.
GaCo competed with their robot in one of eight “divisions” with approximately 80 teams per division. In total, over 600 FRC teams competed in Houston from all over the world. In their division, after 10 qualification matches, they were 4-6-0 and ranked 52nd. Overall, GaCo’s record is 39-19-1 in official play for 2023 and they remain ranked 9th overall in our district which comprises over 120 teams in Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
During the Award Ceremony in Houston, GaCo did receive the “Sustainability” Award for its division, which “Celebrates and recognizes a team which has developed a sustainable program in order to define, manage, and achieve the team’s ongoing objectives.”
“There are many stories to share, but through and through our students made Garrett County very proud and made a difference in the lives of many who attended the conference, and even some locals in Houston,” said Mr. Chuck Trautwein, GCPS Resource Teacher, and Lead Mentor. “The picture of our students teaching impromptu STEM lessons happened dozens of times over. That is one way we measure our success, and, in that and many other ways, we were very successful in Houston!”
