2019 CalGames

The Janksters competed at CalGames this weekend, their first off-season competition of 2019, at Woodside High School. CalGames was filled with many surprises, from making friends with people on other teams, and our rookies stepping up to do new and unfamiliar activities

In their first match, unfortunately, the hatch mechanism fell off, but the Janksters quickly bounced back. The collaboration was key in quickly repairing the robot and later moving to win a few matches. Working with new teams was a great opportunity to collaborate and improve Team 1967’s strategy. 

This was a great learning experience for rookies and veterans alike. Rookies participated in a variety of activities, including robot research, networking, and scouting robots from the stands. Wudi Yousef ‘23 said  “Cal games is a fun and engaging competition. It is a great way for rookies to be prepared for other competitions and to socialize and meet with other teams. You meet so many nice people and get to become closer as a team.” Because CalGames was the first robotics competition many of these students attended, they had unforgettable memories and countless new experiences. 

  Additionally, veterans used newly acquired skills to mentor other students and explore new leadership roles. Vicki Martelli‘21 said “Calgames is incredibly fun, you get to bond with your teammates and engage in friendly competition with other teams.  My favorite part of the competition is cheering for us! I love learning about how all the other teams’ robots were made, they’re always so flashy and interesting!”

One of the team’s mentors, Dean Mulla, won the Mentor Award. This marks the second mentor to receive recognition this year. This speaks volumes to the impact that not only the Janksters, but their mentors, have on the community.

Overall, CalGames was a success for the team. The robot went out there are performed really well. The Janksters had many new members step up into leadership roles and succeed, performing confidently and productively under pressure. This competition was both an exciting and momentous occasion for our team. We are looking forward to Capital City Classic this weekend!

Don’t forget to follow the Janksters on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, for the latest team updates: @team1967