2024 Accomplishments
In 2024, we created our robot, Apollo. Apollo had some incredible success, finishing with 2nd in qualifications at Allentown and 6th in qualifications at Warren Hills. We were also awarded the Industrial Design Award at both of our qualifying events.
2023 Accomplishments
In 2023, Team 834 created the robot Pantheon, which was the robot that sent us back to the FRC World Championships in Houston. At the Warren Hills Event, we won the Quality Award and Ranked 6th overall. With a 16th place ranking at the Chestnut Hill Event, and a 17th place ranking at the Mid-Atlantic Championship, it was enough for us to secure our first trip to Houston since 2017!
2022 Accomplishments
In 2022, The SparTechs team created Dynamo. Dynamo was quite a good robot, placing top 10 in both qualifying events, winning the Gracious Professionalism award at our first. Unfortunately, Dymano’s run ended with a 3-9 record in the division finals.
2020/2021 Accomplishments
In 2020, Soleonidas VI was created… And in 2021, Soleonidas VI became BB-834… However, unfortunately our robot never got to compete in a true competition. Although we did compete in and win awards for separate competitions not directly involved with our robot.
2019 Accomplishments
In 2019, the team created the fifth iteration of Soleonidas, Soleonidas V was another incredibly successful robot. In the Westtown District Event, we ranked 6th overall and won the Safety Award. In the Seneca District Event, won the event, ranked 1st overall, AND won the Quality Award. In the Mid-Atlantic Championship, we performed very well, placing 20th overall, qualifying for the World Championship for the second time in just three years. In the Detroit World Championship, we placed 36th, which wasn’t the ending we hoped for, but was still an incredibly good season performance.
2018 Accomplishments
In 2018, Soleonidas IV was created. We experienced early success, placing 5th in our District Westtown Event and winning the quality award. In our District Seneca Event, we did even better, taking home another blue banner for the team and ranking 1st overall in that event. However, in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship, we struggled and ranked 53rd, meaning we did not repeat our trip to the World Championships.
2017 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In 2017, Soleonidas III was created for the FIRST Steamworks Challenge. We ranked 6th at the Westtown District Event and ranked 16th at the Bridgewater-Raritan District Event. Winning our first blue banner in our team history at the Westtown District Event with our alliance partners 3929 and 1495. Along with ranking 6th at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship. Also qualifying to attend FIRST World Championship St. Louis by our excellent performance and ranking 15th in the Tesla Division.
2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In 2016, Soleonidas II was created for the FIRST Stronghold Challenge. We ranked 2nd at the Hatboro-Horsham District Event and ranked 3rd at the Bridgewater-Raritan District Event. Becoming a finalist at the Hatboro-Horsham District Event with out alliance partners 2607 and 2559. Along with qualifying for the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship. Also qualifying to attend FIRST World Championship St. Louis by performance and ranking 14th in the Carver Division.
EARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Southern Lehigh High School first became involved with FIRST in 2002, ten years after the birth of FIRST. Travis Lehman, a technology education teacher at Southern Lehigh, initiated it. At that time, the team was named FRED. Our first robot, Jerry Rigged, was awarded the Xerox Creativity Award for our design during our rookie year at the 2002 Philadelphia Regional. The next year, 2003, the robot Jaws was created. At this point Mr. Lehman could no longer afford the time to run the robotics club, so the responsibility was passed on to one of the volunteer advisors, John Hughes. In 2004, Atlas was built, and in 2005, Nemesis was born. That year our team, Spartechs 834, along with teams 293 and 358, won second place at the FIRST Regional at Philadelphia. In 2006 the chief advisor position was passed on to Robert Gaugler, the new technology education teacher at Southern Lehigh. That year our robot, Monstructor, made it to the quarter finals during the Philadelphia regionals. During 2007 Jagen was created for the Rack ‘n Roll challenge. Along with teams 539, 816, and team 399, the Spartechs once again made it to the finals, placing second for the second time in 3 years.