Broadwater Robotics Makes Waves At State Championships In Bozeman
Author: Roger Flynn, STOKE
Roger Flynn
STOKE
The Broadwater Robotics high school and middle school teams traveled to Bozeman this weekend to compete in the state championships, where they showcased their hard work, creativity, and technical skills. Their dedication paid off as they achieved phenomenal success, earning recognition for their impressive performances.
The Broadwater Robotics high school team made a great showing at the state championship Friday, February 7th, showcasing both creativity in their robot build and their skills in driving their robot. Competing against 30 teams, Max Sellay, Caleb Swanson, Aiden Kitto, Gavin Green, Cooper Nicther, and Creighton Wright participated in five competitive matches. Scores in those matches were cumulative, placing the Broadwater team in the top 10, standing out among some of the best robotics teams in the state.
The team's performance at the championship was a testament to the countless hours of hard work and preparation put in leading up to the event. This top 10 finish is a significant achievement, especially considering the competitive nature of the event, and it reflects the team's growing success in robotics. As they look ahead, the team is excited to continue honing their skills and pursuing further success in future competitions, eager to push the boundaries of what they can achieve.
Broadwater High School senior Max Sellay was honored with a FIRST graduation cord for his years of participation in FIRST programs, mentoring younger students and fostering a passion for STEM. Max has been involved with FIRST for over ten years. His mentorship will be missed next year as he graduates and attends MSU.
The Broadwater Robotics two middle school teams also competed at their state championship this weekend. The Townsend teams both ended up in the top ten spots out of 100 teams in the state. Put on by FIRST, a global organization that inspires young people to explore STEM, the FIRST Lego Competition challenges teams to design, build, and program a LEGO robot to complete missions in addition to developing a research project where they present a creative solution to a real-world problem related to the season’s theme.
The Broadwater Brainiacs, made up of Kay Crusch, Jayden Flynn, Titus Kirksey, Everett Kirksey, Calvin McCauley, Skylar Sellay, Kathryn Six, and Erilyn Strait, in addition to having a top 5 game score at the event secured the 2nd place trophy for their robot design, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills with the use of swappable attachments and python-based programming.
The Broadwater Avengineers, made up of Cade Culbreth, Trenton Essary, Anthony Grandy, Karter Schmaus, Sam Smith, Nik Toney, and Liam Wells earned 2nd place at the event for the robot game score. Their hours of work paid off for them to receive one of the top three best scores in the state this season.
Spencer Sellay received the Coaches Award at the competition for his dedication to robotics in Townsend and over 10 years of coaching in the FIRST program both here and in California. Spencer is a founding member of the robotics program in Townsend and continues to play a pivotal role in building a strong STEM foundation for students.
This event highlighted Broadwater Robotics’ dedication and teamwork. This success was made possible by coaches Spencer Sellay, Dr. Lisa Brown, Roger Flynn, Dr. Adam Six, Bobbie McCauley, Jessica Crusch, Broadwater High School Senior Max Sellay, and all the parents of these kids who supported the program in so many ways this season.
A big thanks to STOKE for their commitment to programs for kids in Townsend, fostering interest in STEM and inspiring future innovators. A huge thank you as well to the Broadwater Robotics sponsors: STOKE, Townsend Rotary, Schneider Electric, Opportunity Bank, The Lodge of Townsend, Green Wing Excavation, Flynn Hay and Grain, Infinite Hope Counseling, Skreens, Broadwater Family Chiropractic, Wild Pine Creative, Lazy RM Beef, Gianforte Family Foundation, and DoD STEM, whose generous support makes these achievements possible.
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PhotoCredit: STOKE Photo
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater Robotics high school robotics team with their robot at the state championship in Bozeman. From left to right: Coach Dr. Adam Six, Coach Roger Flynn, Gavin Greene, Creighton Wright, Aiden Kitto, Cooper Nichter, Caleb Swanson, Coach Spencer Sellay, Max Sellay, and Coach Dr. Lisa Brown.
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Image 2 Caption: Broadwater Robotics preparing for their qualifying match. From left to right: Back: Caleb Swanson and Creighton Wright. Front: Aiden Kitto and Max Sellay.
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Image 3 Caption: Broadwater High School Senior, Max Sellay, in his final competition. Max has participated in FIRST robotics programs for over 10 years.
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Image 4 Caption: Broadwater Avengineers team prepares for a match. Avengineers received one of the top three match scores in the 2024-25 season.
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Image 5 Caption: Broadwater Brainiacs show off their 2nd place Robot Design trophy. From left to right: Everett Kirksey, Erilyn Strait, Kathryn Six, Kay Crusch, Calvin McCauley, Titus Kirksey, Jayden Flynn, and Skylar Sellay.
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