ROCHESTER – The Chenango County F.I.R.S.T (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Team, sponsored by NBT Bank, joined 44 other teams from the Northeast and Canada at the Finger Lakes Regional Competition in Rochester March 5 and 6.

The game “Breakaway” that swept FIRST teams nationwide in January, was the most stimulating, thought-provoking and exciting game since its inception in 1989. By the end of the first day of competition team #145 with their robot “Watt” was ranked first, and had set a record high score during one match, in not only the Finger Lakes Regional, but all of the regional competitions being held around the country during the first weekend of the tournament.

This was “awesome” said team captain Patrick Bankich. “To perform this well, after all the setbacks during the build season, is just amazing.” Tom Murray, team mentor said, “It was an incredible weekend. The kids certainly earned bragging rights going up against team’s sponsored by Xerox and Ford Motors, and some of the other large corporations, and doing as well as they did. I'm proud to have been a part of that.”