KDSS Robotics Team is Heading Back to World Championship!

The drive teams of the winning alliance!

After competing at three regional competitions, Team 781 has finally come out on top!

The Kinetic Knights FIRST Robotics Team spent their Easter weekend competing at the inaugural Queen City Regional in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing against 56 other FIRST Robotics teams from Canada, Brazil and the U.S.A. 

In a basketball themed game with robots scoring baskets and balancing on a seesaw style bridge the Knights finished the qualification matches in the 21st seed. 

However, during the alliance selections the Kinetic Knights were invited to join the 8th ranked Alliance consisting of Teams 45, The Techno Kats, and Team 3940, The Cyber Tooth, both from Indiana. 

Team 781 outside Xavier University with the Winner Banner

Although their alliance were the underdog throughout the elimination matches, Team 781 found themselves competing in the finals, thanks to their alliance’s ability to balance three robots on the bridge. 

The first match of the finals finished with the alliance earning the highest scoring match of the competition, 91-83. However, the Knight's competition would not give up that easily keeping the second match of the finals at a tight score. It wasn’t until the concluding seconds of the final match when Kinetic Knights’ human player, Luke Splettstoesser, scored a basket from across the field winning the match and the competition, 64-62. 

A special mention goes out to the Kinetic Knights’ drive team, Matt Pagnan, Luke Splettstoesser, Bradley Reid, lead by build captain James Jackson. 

The Knights didn’t just come home with the regional champion title but also our 5th regional website award.  

Game Winning, Human Player
Luke Splettstoesser with the winning net around his neck

Winning this regional secures a spot for the Kinetic Knights in two weeks at the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, MO, where they finished second last year. For those unable to make it down with the team, there will be a live stream of the competition, Facebook updates, and Tweets with more information available on their award winning website, team781.com.

Team 781 will be holding a Penny War at the high school next week and an elementary school dance in the beginning of June to help with assist the cost but they are always looking for new sponsors. If you would like to donate or sponsor the team please contact sponsorship@team781.com or call Kincardine District Secondary School at 519-396-9151.

The Kinetic Knights would like to thank all our current sponsors who have already made this season possible and the community for all their support this past year.

Photos provided by 

Mickey Collins, PR & Awards lead  of Team 781