News Release

42 Robots Rock and Roll at Kettering University Saturday

Posted Sep 18 2008

Flint, MI -The largest high school robotics competition ever hosted by Kettering University will roll into Flint this Saturday, Sept. 20, during the Ninth Annual Kettering Kickoff. Forty-two robotics teams from Canada, Michigan and Ohio will face off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kettering's Connie and Jim John Recreation Center. The event is free and open to the public.

"Our robotics event has become incredibly popular here in Michigan," said Kettering Kickoff Founder Bob Nichols, who is Kettering's director of External Affairs. "It's a tribute to FIRST of Michigan and the leadership at area high schools, volunteers and corporate sponsors who are helping FIRST grow in this region."

Competing Saturday are the following teams:

Team Rush, Clarkston;
Killer Bees, Bloomfield Hills;
Chief Delphi, Pontiac;
Delphi ELITE, Cortland, Ohio;
HOT Team, Highland;
More Martians, Goodrich;
Thunderchickens, Sterling Heights;
Hammerheads, Troy;
Da'Bears, Berkley;
Big Mo - Megatron Oracles, Flint;
Flint FIRE, Flint;
Xtreme, Romulus;
Robocats, Girard, Ohio;
Knight Riders, Flint;
Explorers, Flint;
Alpha Omega, Ypsilanti;
Martians, Goodrich;
Frog Force, Novi;
Northville Robostangs, Northville;
Phoenix, Saginaw;
Advanced Power, Allen Park;
Lightning, Plymouth;
Chargers, Flint;
The Foley Freeze, Sterling Heights;
Sinclair Sprockets, Whitby, Ontario;
Gearheads, Grosse Pointe;
Dragons, Swartz Creek;
GRAYT Leviathons, Fenton;
Technical Difficulties, Chelsea;
Desperate Penguins, Okemos;
Metal Muscle, Flint;
iPirates, Monroe;
The Fighting Pi, Imlay City;
OHHS Firebots, West Branch;
Viking Robotics, Hopkins;
RoboCats, Oxford;
HAZMATS, Lake Fenton;
EngiNERDS, Grand Blanc;
Redtails, Detroit;
Metal & Soul, Capac;
Syntax Errors, Waterford;
The Charge, Midland.

FIRST -- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology -- is a national effort to inspire youth to explore career possibilities in engineering, science and technology. FIRST robotics pits teams in a head-to-head competition between large radio-controlled robots built by teams of high school students and sponsoring engineers and teachers. Almost one-third of Michigan high schools now have a FIRST robotics team as a varsity sport.

Each year, the Kettering Kickoff helps high school teams "kick off" the start of their competition season by using the game, rules and robots of the previous year's national competition.

For more on the Kettering Kickoff, visit: www.KetteringFIRST.com