Team 172 “The Northern Force,” the two-school FIRST® Robotics team from Gorham and Falmouth, ranked 6th at The Pine Tree District FIRST Robotics Qualifying Event on March 11-13, 2022 at Thomas College in Waterville.
Team 172 was the Captain of the 5th Alliance in the Quarter Finals, and won the Team Spirit Award, not for the first time. FIRST Teams competed in-person for the first time in two years. To comply with COVID-19 safety protocols, there were no onsite spectators.
They will compete again in Portsmouth, NH on April 1 and 2. Tune in to Twitch TV on April 1 and 2 to watch Team 172 compete in Portsmouth. Go to twitch.tv/nefirst_blue for the main feed and twitch.tv/nefirst_orange for the full field.
A total of 26 teams participated in the Pine Tree District event from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. All 15 of the Maine teams participated in the playoffs.
Congratulations to all the teams from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts for their performances. It was good to have all the teams back and competing in person.
The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
Team 172, founded in 1996 by Roger Lord of Gorham, is co–coached by John Kraljic of Falmouth, Michelle Moutinho of Gorham, and a long list of volunteer parents and professional mentors from the area, supported by the generosity of several companies and individuals.
Team 172’s mission is to work together as students, mentors, and families to learn and build, build and learn, teaching each other with patience and respect, and to compete well with peers from every other team with confidence and gracious professionalism, helping and learning from each other in the process.
For more information and to contribute to Team 172, contact firstteam172@gmail.com, or visit northernforce.org and on Facebook.