HIGH SCHOOL TEAM “CRUSH 1011” MAKES HISTORY

[Tucson, AZ], April 25, 2017– Sonoran Science Academy’s CRUSH 1011 competed this past week at one of two, concurrently-held, international FIRST World Championships. CRUSH was invited to compete at the FIRST World Championship after both winning the Colorado Regional and earning the Colorado Regional Chairman’s Award. At the event, held in Houston, Texas, last week CRUSH competed with 400 teams from around the world.

On Thursday and Friday, CRUSH 1011 competed with 67 other teams to determine team rankings, securing an 8th seed position overall. On Saturday morning, the top eight teams were tasked with selecting their four-robot alliance for the division elimination rounds.

The FIRST competition revolves around alliances that are comprised of four individual teams. CRUSH was selected first overall by the number one seeded team, FRC Team 973. FRC Team 2928 and FRC Team 5499 were also selected by Team 973 and this “West Coast alliance” went undefeated in the division elimination rounds to become the Division Champions.​

All five division champion alliances then faced off on the “Einstein Field” through fifteen semi-final rounds to determine the two alliance teams that would compete in the final. CRUSH 1011 was thrilled to be part of one of the alliances that advanced to the finals, where they CRUSHed it to become the first ever Arizona team to win the FIRST World Championship.

However, their journey isn’t over yet. On July 28th & 29th, CRUSH will compete in an exposition with the winning alliance from the other FIRST World Championship, held in St. Louis. July’s event, held at a school near FIRST Headquarters in Manchester, New Hampshire, is called the “Festival of Champions” and will be an opportunity for CRUSH to compete and celebrate FIRST.

Dr. Adnan Doyuran, Principal at Sonoran Science Academy Middle/High School commented, “Sonoran Science Academy’s CRUSH 1011 was the first FRC team in Tucson in 2004 and are now the first robotics World Champions from the state of Arizona. This is really an amazing achievement and so well-deserved! This program encompasses so many areas, from marketing and communications, to budget planning and yes, to building robots. It requires incredible commitment from the students but also provides an invaluable, real-world experience of assembling a team to achieve a specific goal and we are so pleased to be able to provide this unique opportunity to or students”.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1989.  Their mission is to inspire young people to pursue science and technology. The organization, based in Manchester, NH, designs accessible, innovative programs motivating young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.  For more information about their FRC program, visit www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc

Sonoran Science Academy Tucson is a K-12 school emphasizing a STEM curriculum, located near River and La Cholla.  For more information about the school, please visit www.sonoranschools.org/tucson.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Crissie Rowley at (520) 505-1772 or email at crowley@sonoranschools.org.