Jan Gottesman, The Clinton Item| The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle

WORCESTER -- The Sutton FIRST Robotics team8544, the Reinforcements, competed in the district event at WPI from April 8 to 10.

The alliance made it to the semifinals, before losing to the eventual meet winners.

The Sutton squad, which includes Sutton middle and high schoolers, as well as some Auburn students, began in 2021 during the pandemic, when the competition was all virtual. So, as a first-year in-person team, they were honored at WPI with two awards: one for being the highest rookie finisher; as well as the Rookie All Star award.

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The Reinforcements won the Rookie Inspiration Award at its prior competitionat Shrewsbury High School March 25 to 27.

FIRST Robotics was started by entrepreneur Dean Kamen in 1992 to promote STEM in schools. Clinton's Gael Force was one of the original teams and won the first year's competition, earning an invitation to the White House.

Each year, FIRST invents a new competition for the robots. This year, it is calledRapid React. The games had robots pick up and shoot large balls into the hoops in the middle of the field, then hang and climb bars located at the corners of the field.

The Reinforcements will be heading to Springfield for the New England Championships this weekend.

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Sutton FIRST robotics team competes at WPI; earns two awards - Millbury-Sutton Chronicle