​Kinetic Knights bring home prestigious FIRST Impact Award from Windsor

The Kinetic Knights Robotics Team (FRC Team 781) of Kincardine had high hopes of earning a second Finalist Award at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Ontario District event, held on the weekend at the University of Windsor.

But just as the team’s hopes were dashed in the semi-finals, the announcement was made that Team 781 had won the prestigious FIRST Impact Award (formerly the Chairman’s Award), the highest achievement on the administrative side of the competition.

The award honours the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect and honour for science and technology, as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders.

Receiving FIRST Impact was a dream come true for Team 781 administrative lead, Carter Frook, who has been writing submissions for this particular award since the team returned to competition in 2022, following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s the culmination of three years of work on our part,” he said. “It’s truly gratifying to be recognized by FIRST for the work we’ve been doing in the community.”



The Kinetic Knights high-five the judges as they accept the FIRST Impact Award in Windsor, on the weekend

Meanwhile, back on the field, the Ontario District event has been held in Windsor since 2014 and this year’s competition welcomed 29 teams which squared off in the “Reefscape” challenge, with two alliances of three robots apiece, on the field for each game. The qualifying matches ran throughout Friday and Saturday morning, followed by the elimination rounds.

After the qualifying matches, Team 781 was in seventh place, with 10 wins and six losses.



FRC Team 781's robot competes in Windsor, Friday

During alliance selection, the Kinetic Knights were chosen as the first pick for Alliance 3, partnered with captain Team 5912, the Copper Hawks of Jordan (near St. Catharines), and Team 7136, the Titanium Titans of Etobicoke.

In the double-elimination playoffs, Alliance 3 defeated Alliance 6, 101-77; followed by a win against Alliance 2, 117-112. It then took on the top-ranked Alliance 1, losing 215-101.

This put Alliance 3 in the semi-finals against Alliance 5, and in a spectacularly-close match, the opposition took the game, 130-129.

Alliance 1 went on to win the competition, with Alliance 5 as the finalist.

The Kinetic Knights are currently ranked 15th in Ontario and travel to Mississauga for the provincial championships, this weekend. If they qualify, they would be eligible for the worlds in Houston, Texas, April 16-19.

Team 781 greatly appreciates its mentors, supporters and sponsors, particularly its major sponsors: Bruce Power, NPX, Kincardine Legion, McKechnie Pharmacy and Enbridge.

The Kinetic Knights Robotics Team is a community youth robotics organization, open to young people, ages 13-19, in Kincardine. Currently, there are about 25 members and 12 mentors who focus on various aspects of team-building, as well as constructing a robot to enter in FIRST competitions.

For more information, contact lead mentor, David Dadson, at dcdadson@live.com.



The Kinetic Knights' robot competes in the Reefscape challenge in Windsor, Saturday



Team 781's robot competes with its Alliance 3 partners in elimination rounds at Windsor