Year in Review
Sponsored by RackSolutions.com, L-3 Communications Integrated Systems and Greenville ISD, Team 148, the Robowranglers, participated in the 2008 FIRST Robotics Competition.

In the 2008 FRC game, "FIRST Overdrive," two three-team alliances compete in each match.  The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent by racing your robot around a track knocking down 40" inflated "trackballs" and moving them around the track, passing them either over or under a 6'6" overpass.

Team 148's robot, "Tumbleweed," was successful with the strategy of using a racecar design that circled the field for points.  "Tumbleweed" led the team to a first place finish at the FRC St. Louis Regional with teams 217 and 830, and as a Finalist at the FRC Bayou Regional with teams 118 and 49.  After winning the Galileo Division at national championship in Atlanta, the team became the World Champions alongside teams 1114 and 217.

The Robowranglers also took home the Rockwell Automation Innovation in Control Award from the St. Louis Regional and the Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award from the Bayou Regional.  In addition, lead engineer John V-Neun was honored with the prestigious Woodie Flowers Award, in recognition of his leadership and inspiration as a mentor to the team.

Students
Rae Arnold
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Allison Chitwood
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Michelle Colwell
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Cody Fields
    Team Role: Student, 2008
Bethany Follett
    Team Role: Student, 2007-2008
Elise Follett
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Parker Foote
    Team Role: Student, 2008
Parker Francis
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Ben Gilbert
    Team Role: Student, 2007-Present
Regan Haralson
    Team Role: Student, 2008
    Attending: Design Communication, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Ethan Isham
    Team Role: Student, 2006-2008
Trenton Jones
    Team Role: Student, 2007-2008
    Attending: Radio & Television, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Ethan Isham
    Team Role: Student, 2006-2008
Trenton Jones
    Team Role: Student, 2007-2008
    Attending: Radio & Television, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Katie Kroncke
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Austin Lambert
    Team Role: Student, 2006-2008
Julie Latimer
    Team Role: Student, 2007-2008
Mark Mahrer
    Team Role: Student, 2006-Present
Logan Marcum
    Team Role: Student, 2005-2008
    Attending: Texas A&M University
Zack McClellen
    Team Role: Student, 2007-Present
Chris McMurray
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Adam Risley
    Team Role: Student, 2007-Present
Laura Risley
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Charles Wensel
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present
Kaleb Wright
    Team Role: Student, 2008-Present

Mentors
Corey Chitwood
    Team Role: Mentor, 2008-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, Innovation First, Inc.
    Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Chris Follett
    Team Role: Mentor, 2004-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
John Hodapp
    Team Role: Mentor, 1992-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
Brandon Martus
    Team Role: Mentor, 2007-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, Innovation First, Inc.
    Degree: B.S., Computer Science, University of Detroit Mercy
Steve Maxwell
    Team Role: Mentor, 1997-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
    Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of New Mexico-Albuquerque
Kevin Morris
    Team Role: Mentor, 2007-Present; Student, 2003-2006
    Major: Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas-Tyler
Amanda Morrison
    Team Role: Mentor, 2008
    Degree: B.A., English Studies, Ball State University
Adam Reppond
    Team Role: Mentor, 2003-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
Ken Stroud
    Team Role: Mentor, 2006-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
Ricky Torrance
    Team Role: Mentor, 1997-2004, 2007-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, Innovation First, Inc.
    Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University
John V-Neun
    Team Role: Mentor, 2006-Present
    Occupation: Mechanical Engineer, Innovation First, Inc.
    Degree: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Clarkson University
Casey Welch
    Team Role: Mentor, 2001-Present; Student, 1994-1996
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS
    Degree: B.S., Computer Information Systems, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Monty Wineinger
    Team Role: Mentor, 1998-2006, 2008-Present
    Occupation: Engineer, L-3 Communications IS

Coaches
Vanessa Pope
    Team Role: Mentor, 2009-Present; Coach, 1994-2008
    Degrees: B.A., Journalism/Advertising, B.A., English Literature,
    M.Ed., Secondary Education, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Johnny Tharp
    Team Role: Coach, 2005-Present
    Occupation: Instructor, Greenville High School

Photos

In the News
Greenville FIRST team focus of parent's night (February 16, 2008, Greenville Herald Banner)
GHS FIRST team goes undefeated at regionals (March 2, 2008, Greenville Herald Banner)
Robotics Team Captures Gold at St. Louis (March 4, 2008, Lion Ledger)
Robowranglers Collect Supplies for New Orleans School (March 4, 2008, Lion Ledger)
GHS Robotics team earns silver (March 31, 2008, Greenville Herald Banner)
GHS Robotics Team World Champions (April 19, 2008, Lion Ledger)
GHS team wins FIRST world title (April 21, 2008, Greenville Herald Banner)
World champion robotics team honored (May 15, 2008, Greenville Herald Banner)
Can competitions raise 'cool' factor of math, science? (May 16, 2008, The Christian Science Monitor)

Resources
2008 Website