The Wayland Union High School Robotics Team received the Rookie All-Star Award at the FIRST Robotic district championship competition Friday and Saturday at East Kentwood High School. The Woldcats also were ranked 15th out of 40 teams.

Wayland was one of nine rookie teams but the only one to receive the award. Rookie All-Star accolades celebrate the rookie team exemplifying a young, but strong partnership effort, as well as implementing the mission of FIRST to inspire students to learn more about science and technology.

The team is coached by Dave Long, a Wayland Union Schools alumni and consists of ten members: Grace Chandler, Lewis Bartlett, Alex Sobiesczyk, Eric Chandler, Landon Kohtz, Jake Radmacher, Christian Mattingly, Matthew Gauthier, Kyle Thelen, and Josh Gemmen. Team mentors are Christina Johnson, Keith Kohtz, and Joe Sobiesczyk.

The FIRST Robotics Competition is for students in grades 9-12 where they compete head to head on a special playing field with robots they’ve designed, built and programmed. They only had six weeks to build and program their robots. The competition combines the excitement of a varsity sport with hands-on training in science and technology to help high school students discover how rewarding a career in engineering or technology can be.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, N.H., the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity inspires young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting Mentor-based programs that build science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.