Pymble Pride Shines at the FRC Southern Cross Regional

This past weekend, Pymble Pride competed at the FRC Southern Cross Regional, taking not one, but two robots to the competition. Team 6510, built primarily by Year 10 and 11 students, and Team 6497, a rookie team made up mostly of Year 9 and 10 students, represented the school with pride, determination, and excitement.

With around 40 Pymble students attending to support the team, the energy in the stands was incredible. Students were actively involved in coding, building, driving, scouting, strategising and cheering – their passion and dedication made all the difference.

FRC is more than just a robotics competition; it’s an opportunity for students to develop essential skills in teamwork, resilience, problem-solving under pressure, adaptability, leadership and gracious professionalism. They also learn the importance of sportsmanship – supporting and assisting other teams when needed.

Both Pymble teams maintained a top ranking throughout the competition and finished as alliance captains, with 6510 as the third alliance captain and 6497 as the fourth alliance captain – an incredible achievement in a field of 44 teams.

As a rookie team, 6497 focused on building a simple yet reliable robot with a strong strategy, which led to a fantastic performance. Meanwhile, 6510 won the Innovation in Control Award. Here’s what the judges had to say about their achievement:

“Their robot is a marvel of precision and practicality, seamlessly integrating with its human player to make a finely tuned proud duet. It handled the pressures of competition with ease, making split-second decisions under stress and performing flawlessly every time.”

Beyond the competition, the sense of camaraderie and teamwork was inspiring. Students supported each other every step of the way – cheering, problem-solving, celebrating victories and comforting one another in tough moments.

Now, Team 6510 is gearing up for their next challenge – they’re heading to Colorado on Saturday 15 March for the FRC Colorado Regional. With everything they’ve learned and the progress they’ve made, they’re ready to take on the next competition with confidence and determination.

Go Pymble Pride!

Cristhina Boni Lavratti

Robotics Manager