Power Amplified (Robotics) Concludes Season at Granite City Regional
Following a strong showing earlier this season in Duluth, the Providence Academy robotics team, Power Amplified (Team 4511), carried momentum into their final event of the year at the Granite City Regional in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
After the Duluth competition, the team used the following two weeks leading into spring break to make major improvements to their robot. The students redesigned the intake mechanism, reinforced the robot’s structure, and carefully studied the game strategy to better align with alliance play and match efficiency.
This year’s FIRST Robotics Competition season, under the game title “Rebuilt,” once again challenged teams to design, build, and operate robots in a fast-paced, highly strategic environment. Entering the weekend, Power Amplified focused on consistency, adaptability, and maximizing scoring opportunities with alliance partners.
Strong Friday Performance
The Lions opened competition with a strong first day, finishing Friday with a record of 5 wins and 2 losses. Their performance placed them 14th overall heading into Saturday, putting them in a solid position within a competitive field of 51 teams.
Match data and rankings were tracked throughout the event using The Blue Alliance, allowing teams and supporters to follow real-time updates.
Saturday Challenges and Resilience
Saturday brought a mix of highs and lows. The team received a special visit in the morning from Sister Amelia and Sister Anne Therese, who came to support and cheer on the students during competition.
On the field, the team faced two difficult morning losses, including a final qualification match in which they were left as the only fully operational robot on their alliance. Despite the adversity, the students continued to compete with determination and teamwork through the end of the day.
Final Results
At the conclusion of qualification matches, Power Amplified finished ranked 23rd out of 51 teams, just outside of playoff selection.
While the team did not advance to elimination rounds, the season highlighted major growth. Coaches noted that this year’s robot was one of the most compact and complex designs the program has built, reflecting the students’ engineering development, problem-solving, and perseverance.
Gratitude and Support
The team and coaching staff extended appreciation to mentors Linda Hoekman and Mickey Biedrzycki for their continued guidance and support throughout the season. Additional faculty mentors also played an important role in helping students navigate design, strategy, and competition preparation.
The program also expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of Providence Academy leadership, families, and the broader community, including the opportunity to attend a second regional competition this season.
Looking Ahead
While the competitive season has concluded, Power Amplified is already looking forward to future opportunities, including plans to showcase the robot at the Minnesota State Fair over Labor Day weekend. Students have also expressed interest in inviting Lower School classes to view and interact with the robot as part of ongoing STEM outreach efforts.
Go Power Amplified!