Each August, team 624 competes in the Texas Robot Roundup (TRR) offseason tournament in Austin. This year, TRR marks the inaugural UIL State Championship, as FRC robotics is now a varsity sport. The UIL Robotics pilot program started in the 2015-2016 season. Based on team results from that season, which ended April, 2016 with the World Championship event held in St. Louis, 42 dedicated teams were invited to compete for the state championship at TRR, including Team 624. This was the first time our team would compete without last year’s experienced seniors, but our students were very much excited and prepared for the event. Although this was a challenging first competition for our new drive team and crew, no one left empty handed! After placing 5th in Qualification Matches, the team became Captain of the 3rd seed Alliance involving Team 3310, (Blackhawk Robotics) from Heath HS in Rockwall, Team 4192 (Jaggernauts) from Flower Mound HS and Team 3679 (Rattlers) from San Marcos HS. Our Alliance made it all the way to the Semi-finals; showing great promise for the coming season. When it came time for the award ceremonies, the team was unsurprised when our longtime Cryptonite Mentor, Mike Outlaw won the Stash Zabriski Volunteer Award. “The TRR volunteer award recognizes a person who has given up their time and talents to the FIRST programs and the real reason of FIRST, to promote science and technology to the young men and women who are a part of the FIRST family. This award was named in honor and memory of Stash Zabriski, a young man who became involved with FIRST at the age of 16, not as a team member but as a volunteer.” Yet again,Team 624 comes home with more experience, awards, and memories from another successful event.