Coached by Hicksville High School technology teacher Catherine Temps, the J-Birds outscored approximately 40 teams at the two-day Small Business Partnership of Long Island competition, which took place at Hofstra University March 24 and 25.

Schools from as far away as Rhode Island sent teams to participate in the demanding technological challenge which is designed to encourage education and competence in the fields of computer, electrical and mechanical engineering in a fun and hands-on program. Each team had six weeks to design and build a robot, according to exact specifications, from raw materials provided by the sponsors. The robots were then pitted against one another in a ball game. Each game lasted two minutes and 10 seconds; divided into four separate sections.

The first segment was the autonomous mode where the robot navigated around the playing field, driven solely by computer code developed independently by each team. The objective was to shoot balls into a goal or block an opponent from scoring. During the second and third periods the two teams take turns; each one having an offensive and a defensive period. The fourth and final period is a free-for-all when either team can score or defend. At the end of each match, bonus points are awarded for robots that were able to climb a ramp before the buzzer sounded. In the second third and fourth periods, two human "drivers" guided the robot with a robot control. Many thanks to Joe Pistirino and Andrew Oprea for doing an outstanding job navigating the battlefield and writing the computer code.

On March 25, each of the top eight teams formed alliances by inviting two other schools to join them for the quarterfinal challenge; the alliances winning two of three matches advanced to the semi-finals and then the finals. The Hicksville J-Birds just missed progressing to the national competition in Atlanta in a dramatic "overtime" rematch. Along with alliance partners Patchogue-Medford and Plainview-Old Bethpage, the J-Birds progressed strongly through the quarter-finals and semi-finals thanks to adjustments made after each contest by the resourceful pit crew and drivers. The Hicksville J-Birds had a dramatic ascendancy to the finals with the most competitive ending the competition has ever witnessed.

The J-Bird alliance had won one and lost one approaching the final critical battle of the two out of three contest for regional winner. In what was to be the final game it appeared that the opponents had a penalty, which would have advanced Hicksville to the national competition but the game was declared void due to an unrelated technical judging error.

The J-Birds went on to again compete fiercely against the highly ranked Hauppauge alliance. The replay of the "final" match was saved by the quick thinking of MVP Joe Pistirino who, after realizing that Hicksville needed more points than climbing the ramp would provide, plowed down the field unobstructed as the other robots raced to the ramps, allowing his fellow operator to score 21 points in the final seconds of the match as the buzzer sounded. This strategy held off the Hauppauge alliance as the J-Birds tied up the game and a previously unheard of third "final" contest had to be played.

Although the J-Birds fell in the fifth game of the finals, they were deservedly jubilant to have done so spectacularly. Many thanks to corporate mentors Matthew Cholerton, Brain Cholerton, George Ackerson, Jim Faro and Walter Czbahn for all the time and expertise they lent to the team.

Way to go J-Birds! Congratulations to all.