Robotics Team 1218 Qualifies for Worlds

By Gray David
Team 1218 Assistant Media Publicity Director

Last weekend, Lehigh University hosted the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship, a crucial regional event for SCH Robotics Team 1218, as it determined qualification for the World Championship in Houston, Texas. This year, 1218 named their robot “SURGE,” themed their season “Beach Bash,” and emphasized that everyone’s invited! 

At the competition, SURGE’s strong performance in the qualification matches earned them a 5th rank out of 60 teams, securing their position as an alliance captain in the playoffs. Team 1218 won their first playoff game in the eight-team bracket but lost the next two, eliminating them from the playoffs. SURGE concluded the weekend as a semi-finalist. 

Off the competition field, 1218 brought their spirit to the stands with their cleverly-named cart, “Beach Bash On the Road.” The mobile hub served as a way to share the team’s enthusiasm for FIRST and connect with other competitors. For months, members of 1218 had been painting, decorating, and carefully curating the cart's contents to ensure it would be a blast for other teams at competitions. Patricia the flamingo, the cart mascot, was a popular photo opportunity all weekend. 

At the end of the day, as the announcer read the names of the teams that qualified for Houston, the team anxiously awaited to see whether they made it. After what seemed like forever, the announcer made the announcement: “Team 1218!” After two months of building and a month of competition, the team found out that they’d be competing at the FIRST World Championship in Houston! (See the video below for the team’s reaction!)

Team 1218 surely spread and showed their creativity and love for robotics on and off the playing field, and they could not be more excited that they have earned their spot at Worlds from April 16th to 19th. Congratulations, and GO ROBOTS!