DHS Robotics Club Is Ready For Nationals

DAYTON - Within one week of being part of the winning team at the regional robotics competition, Dayton High School's robotics team has raised the necessary funds for them to compete at nationals later this month.

The team, led by DHS teacher Steve McLean raised $13,325 within one week to be able to attend the national competition - a competition they never thought they'd get to in their dreams.

" The ( generosity) has been phenomenal and it has come from places we didn't know existed," McLean said of the money raised.

Six local individuals and families chipped in to send the team of four high school boys and their teacher to St. Louis for the competition. A couple of local businesses donated to the cause, as well as a couple of companies across the state McLean had never heard of, he said.

"It has just been beyond belief," he added.

Superintendent Doug Johnson said the amount raised should cover airfare and hotel costs and possibly could be used as seed money to continue a robotics team at the school next year.

"They have done very well thanks to the generosity of people all over the state," Johnson said.

The team members, Lincoln Riley, Demitri Tziouvaras, James Costello and Alex Eaton, said when they attended the regional robotics competition in Cheney two weekends ago, they hadn't even really planned on entering the robot they had created. They were new to building robots and competition and they definitely felt like underdogs.

"We weren't even going to bring the robot," Tziouvaras said. "We just thought we'd sit and watch."

There were many people at the competition who just started helping the small team from Dayton with their robot. The robots were built to pick up basketballs and shoot them. Despite not being at the same level as other experienced robotics teams, the Dayton robot earned some major points. And, most importantly, Dayton was invited to join an alliance with two powerhouse robotics teams from Seattle and Boise. With their help, the Dayton boys found themselves on the winning team and placing third overall.

"It was very unreal," Tziouvaras said. "People didn't even know where Dayton was. But we gave 110 percent and pushed as hard as we could."

The five-member group hasn't been able to do anything to the robot in the meantime to improve it. It had to stay sealed in a bag and last Monday, it was shut tight in a large wooden box where it would remain until it reached St. Louis. Riley said they will be able to add up to 30 pounds of new material to the robot to improve it once they're at nationals - but that's it.

He added that they were very worried to bring the robot back to McLean's classroom because fellow students wanted to see the robot, but they could be disqualified if that bag was opened.

"We worked hard to get where we're at," Riley said.

The four are very excited for the trip to St. Louis and for the chance to participate in the national competition. But, they are also happy to bring back a trophy and give the Dayton community a really good reason to be proud.

"It's going to mean a lot to the school and our community," Riley said.

And almost as important to the teammates is that they do well at the competition so Dayton can continue to have a robotics club. The robots are expensive to build. McLean obtained nearly $9,000 in grant money to make the robot for this year.

The four students said the club is beneficial to them because it provides a non-athletics related activity where they can shine. And while building the robot, they have learned to be more responsible, how to manage their time, how to communicate with one another and how to work as a team.

Johnson said he sees a bright future for the club and has heard of about 10 students interested in participating next year.

Riley said the whole process and the competitions can be very overwhelming, but they simply have been gritting their teeth and getting through the rough patches. And now, they're ready to take what they've learned to nationals.

"Dayton may be a small town, but we've got a lot of potential," Tziouvaras said.