Team SCREAM Jr. captured its second FIRST Robotics Regional championship banner of this season on Saturday, March 25, as its alliance came from behind to beat the top-ranked alliance, which featured its upperclassmen teammates, Team SCREAM, at the Central Missouri Regional held at Smith-Cotton High School.

Team SCREAM Jr. was selected by No. 2 alliance captain Blaze Robotics from Burnsville, Minn.; their third team was Jesubots from Kansas City. Regional champions advance to the FIRST World Championships in April. Team SCREAM’s alliance was led by Ratchet Rockers of Wentzville and rounded out with 10 Factorial from Rolla.

In the finals, Team SCREAM’s alliance won the first game, 150-140, but Team SCREAM
Jr.’s squad came back in the second game, 158-144, to force a tie-breaker.

The final game was a nail-biter, with the champions winning 157-153.
Team SCREAM Head Coach Michael Wright praised both Blaze Robotics and Team
SCREAM Jr. for their performances in what he called “a hard-fought final."

“I’m happy for Team SCREAM Jr.,” Wright said. “Nothing but great things to say about
them. This is a hard-working group of kids and they see that from (Team SCREAM); they have kind of instilled that in them. Their robot was just fantastic all week, really fast. They had some repairs they were able to make and they pushed through all of that stuff."

This is the second consecutive regional final in which a robot on Team SCREAM’s alliance failed in the third game of the best-two-out-of-three matchup, creating a three-on-two advantage for their opponents.

“There is a lot of skill, a lot of things that you try to prepare for, but sometimes a little
bad luck creeps in and you keep moving on and try to get better,” Wright said. “We played great - I am super pleased and happy with the improvements our team made. We had one of the best robots here and I think it clearly showed, but luck just wasn’t there for us this afternoon."

With its performance, Team SCREAM did receive a wildcard entry in the FIRST World
Championships. Also, the regional judges awarded Team SCREAM with the Industrial Design Award, sponsored by General Motors.

“I am super proud of our community and our program,” Wright said. “Having two robots
in the finals of both competitions we have been to so far, this is fantastic."

Wright also made a point to thank the Sedalia community for its role in the event’s
success.

“It was a great weekend. It was great seeing the community out in support of the
teams,” he said. “We are going to showcase Sedalia at the world championships with two teams.”

In the photos: 
Below, Team SCREAM Jr.’s robot (4766) shoots a game piece onto a platform during the FIRST Robotics Central Missouri Regional on Saturday, March 25, at Smith-Cotton High School.

Above, Team SCREAM Jr.’s drive team, from left, Christopher Bowman, Jaimeson Severa and Nolan Frankum, survey the game field as they operate the robot during a qualifying match during the FIRST Robotics Central Missouri Regional on Saturday, March 25, at Smith-Cotton High School.

Courtesy of Sedalia School District 200 Team SCREAM Jr.’s robot (4766) shoots a game piece onto a platform during the FIRST Robotics Central Missouri Regional on Saturday, March 25, at Smith-Cotton High School.
Sedalia School District 200
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