This year’s FIRST Robotics challenge was to build a robot capable of playing a soccer-style game with 2-foot diameter exercise balls and, more importantly, to pass and catch balls from two alliance-member robots in the process of each scoring drive. The team of about 40 eighth- through 12th-grade students persevered through six weeks of bad weather and successfully completed the robot by the Feb. 18 deadline. Their competition at Mariucci Arena is March 27 through 29. Coach Ken Fiscus wishes to thank the Robotics parents and sponsors, Innovance, Edwards Manufacturing and Ernie’s Canvas. — Submitted