History
In the beginning, Dean Kamen created FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). We just didn't hear about it in Niagara until...
2003 FRC Season
2003 Game - Stack Attack
The seed for NiagaraFIRST.org was planted in October 2002. General Motors of Canada St. Catharines Ontario Engineering Director, Stephen Rourke and Governor Simcoe Secondary School Technical Director, Greg Phillips met to discuss the possibility of fielding a rookie team in 2003 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). The enthusiastic discussion, along with generous financial and mentor support from General Motors of Canada, quickly unfolded into an exciting rookie season for FRC Team #1114 "GM Simbotics". The team designed and built Simbot "Sally" - competing in two successful 2003 Regional Competitions in Pittsburgh and Toronto, followed by a trip the National Championship in Houston, Texas. Engineers from General Motors mentored the motivated and creative students from Governor Simcoe to achieve one of the most successful rookie seasons in the 2003 FRC Game "Stack Attack".
Driver: Brent Selvig
Operator: Emerald Church
Human Player: Sean Morris
Coach: Paul Maddaloni
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2004 FRC Season
2004 Game - FIRST Frenzy
With the taste of success still lingering from the rookie season, Rourke and Phillips built on the successful foundation. Organizational development discussions were held to align the team mission, culture, and core values. Organizational strategy set the stage for improved team structure. Student team leaders and sub-team leaders were established to run the team business. The mentor base was strengthened. Rourke recruited former Woburn Team #188 FIRST Robotics veterans Ian MacKenzie and Karthik Kanagasabapathy (both of whom were attending The University of Waterloo) to provide seasoned mentor experience and to pass along lessons learned from past competitions. SimSwerve (a strafing, omni-directional mobility system) was born from the creative juices of the design team. Strategy development and analysis drove Simbot "Simon" to new heights of success in the 2004 FRC Game, "FIRST Frenzy - Raising the Bar". A gold medal at the Long Island Regional, silver medals in both the Pittsburgh Regional and the Canadian Regional, and another trip the National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia are just a few of the memorable highlights of the successful sophomore season - with "GM Simbotics" winning more awards than any other FIRST Team in the nation.
Driver: Brent Selvig
Operator: Tyler Holtzman
Human Player: Paul Maddaloni
Coach: Karthik Kanagasabapathy
Chairman's Presenters: Emerald Church, Sean Morris
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2005 FRC Season
2005 Game - Triple Play
After two successful seasons in FIRST, Simbotics realized it was time to start spreading FIRST to the rest of the Niagara Region. With limited resources, the team knew expansion would be difficult. A creative strategy was needed. From this line of thinking, NiagaraFIRST was born. NiagaraFIRST is an organization that supports and funds FIRST teams in the Niagara Region. NiagaraFIRST.org uses creative and collaborative strategies to minimize development, manufacturing, and travel expenses, allowing for smaller allocation of resources to support a greater number of FIRST teams. By uniquely managing mentor support and financial resources, NiagaraFIRST was able start two new FRC teams in the region. Team 1503 (Westlane SS) and Team 1680 (Fort Erie SS) became the newest members of the NiagaraFIRST community. The 2005 robot, Simbot "Kevin" was named after the late Kevin Heins, a young Simbot who had passed away in a tragic accident that January. Simbot Kevin started the year slowly, but finished strong bringing home the gold with a regional victory in Toronto.
Driver: Jeff Beckett
Operator: Peter Diakow
Human Player: Stuart MacGregor
Coach: Derek Bessette
Chairman's Presenters: Emerald Church, Jeff Beckett
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2006 FRC Season
2006 Game - Aim High
Team 1114 had developed a strong reputation for success over its first three seasons. But nothing accomplished in the past could match the events of the 2006 season. Simbot "Beckham" was created with the goal of being the strongest robot on the playing field, yet while having the ability to handle "poof balls" with finesse. The goals were met, as at times Beckham seemed like an immovable object on the field. As a result the team had arguably the most successful regional season of all time, with three regional wins. This was the first time this feat was accomplished since 1998. Making this feat even more impressive was the fact that all three victories were with our younger triplet, Team 1503. On-field accomplishments were accompanied with success off the field. In 2006, Team 1114 won its first ever Chairman's Award.
Driver: Jeff Beckett
Operator: Peter Diakow
Human Player: Brandon Pruniak
Coach: Derek Bessette
Chairman's Presenters: Peter Diakow, Lindsay Davies
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2007 FRC Season
2007 Game - Rack n' Roll
As successful as the 2006 season was, Team 1114 looked to keep improving. Two new teams were founded, Team 2166 at Appleby College in Oakvile, and Team 2056 at Orchard Park SS in Stoney Creek. For the first time since 2004, Simbotics did not actively collaborate with any other teams, ending the run of the Niagara Triplets. Still, the team was able to achieve the same types of success that was found during the triplet era. Two regional victories in FRC by Simbot "Prime" took place in Waterloo and Toronto. 2007 also marked a new accomplishment for the team, winning the prestigious Indiana Robotics Invitational over the summer. This event featured the best teams from across FIRST, in what was one of the toughest competitions in FIRST history.
Driver: Brandon Pruniak
Operator: Chris Lyddiat
Human Player: Luke Visser
Coach: Derek Bessette
Chairman's Presenters: Lindsay Davies, Matt Coffey, Candice Evans
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2008 FRC Season
2008 Game - FIRST Overdrive
After the success of the previous few seasons, Team 1114 came in ready to take the next step as a team. A new team was founded with the aid and mentoring of Team 1114, Team 2505 at Don Mills Collegiate Institute in North York, ON. Team 1114 won their second Regional Chairman's Award at the Waterloo Regional. With our simpliest robot to date, Simbot SS, the team took home three regional victories for the second time in 1114 history, with wins at the Midwest, Waterloo and Toronto Regionals. Team 1114 advanced to the World Championships in Atlanta with large expectations, considered by many the favourites to win it all. A strong qualifying round record led the team to a first overall seed, enabling us to select an alliance of Teams 217, the Thunderchickens, and 148, the Robowranglers. Despite competition from strong alliances representing the Archimedes and Curie divisions, Team 1114 won their first ever FRC World Championship.
Driver: Brandon Pruniak
Opperator: Chris Lyddiat
Robocoach: Luke Visser
Coach: Derek Bessette
Chairman's Presenters: Matt Coffey, Candice Evans, Stuart MacGregor
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2009 FRC Season
2009 Game - Lunacy
Team 1114 entered 2009 looking to defend their World Championship title. Going into the 2009 season, Simbotics helped found two new rookie teams, Team 2809, "Kbotics" at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Kingston, ON and Team 2852 "Redmen" at Dennis Morris High School in St. Catharines, ON. Team 1114 won their third Regional Chairman's Award, this time at the Greater Toronto Regional. Simbot "Panthro" was created hoping to distinguish itself from the field, and succeeded being regarded as one of the best "shooters" in Lunacy and taking home a regional victory at the Greater Toronto Regional and a design award. Team 1114 seeded first at the World Championships, becoming the first ever team to earn a Championship first seed in consecutive years. Unfortunately the team was defeated in the semi-finals, by the eventual division winners. After regional awards at Midwest and Greater Toronto regional, simbotics.org also took home the award for the Championship's Best Web Site.
Driver: Brandon Pruniak
Opperator: Chris Lyddiat
Human Player: Luke Visser
Coach: Kyle Willick
Chairman's Presenters: Matt Coffey, Candice Evans, Ryan Shaw
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