On January 7 the Granby Grunts High School Robotics Team #3146 kicked off its 2023 competition season. The team has been busy designing and building its new robot to complete this year’s set of complex tasks. To showcase the team’s progress to date, on February 11 the Grunts invited the team’s sponsors, family and community members, and district, town and school officials to their Open Shop Day.
During Open Shop Day, guests had an opportunity to see the team in action working on this season’s robot. The Grunts extended a warm welcome to State Representative Mark Anderson of the 62nd District and his father Art, First Selectman Mark Fiorentino and his wife Kristal, Chairman of the Board of Education Sarah Thrall and her son, Oliver, Gold Level Sponsors from Joining Industries—President and CEO Dave Hudson and Enterprise Controller Donald Anneser, families of Grunts students and community members.
Visitors received a tour of the “shop” and the team provided robot demonstrations on the practice field. Team members reviewed the game play they’ll be following for upcoming competitions and had a model of the competition playing field on display.
The event was run by students with the assistance of mentors. Those who were able to attend included team members: Ely Hosack, Eric Myers, Noah Collen, Charlie Krut, Atticus Bogli, Kian Woods, Jack Sottile, Matthew Macaulay, Mason Gianinoto and mentors: Scott Boynton, Stephen Kalogiannis, Todd and Sherri Collen, Mike Puskar, Eric and Mary Myers, Michelle Krut and Don Rethke aka “Dr. Flush.”
The Grunts’ season always includes community outreach opportunities. In this year’s preseason the team participated in the Granby Memorial Day parade and had booths at both the Simsbury Fly-In and Celebrate the Valley, where the team demonstrated the capabilities of last year’s robot, Candy Cane. The team also performed demonstrations at the Granby Men’s Breakfast and Hartland School.
The Granby Grunts are looking forward to introducing its new robot, Bandit, at the 2023 district competitions: Western New England University March 17-18 and Hartford Public High School on March 31 to April 2, as well as regionals, the New England Championship at the Big E, April 5-8. The public is welcome to attend.
