Team Blitz, a mountain area 2nd year high school robotics team, is chomping at the bit to compete in this year's USFIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Regional Competition, to be held this Friday and Saturday, March 28th and 29th, at the Magness Arena in the Ritchie Center at The University of Denver. Winners of the All-Star Rookie Award at the Colorado Regional last year, and a two-time winner of a 6K grant from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), Team Blitz is one of 1500 teams with 35,000 students worldwide who will be racing around the track at this year's competition dubbed " FIRST Overdrive." Given six weeks to build a robot from scratch that can capture and shoot a 40" exercise ball over a 6-1/2' overpass, Team Blitz is composed of mountain area students as well as homeschoolers who have worked tireless hours and lengthy days to compete against 40+ teams at DU this weekend.

This year's robot design sports a high speed chassis with an omni-drive wheel system and an on-board gyro for directional stability. Kevlar arms that are both lightweight and durable will contribute to the success of the robot. Only two years into the USFIRST learning curve, Team Blitz has undertaken many community outreach programs including an Open House in Conifer, and a Robotics Expo featuring FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge robots, and FIRST robots. Extensive interest has been generated for a Robotics Summer Camp for the summer of 2008 as well.

To see Team Blitz and other fascinating robots at work, plan to attend the Colorado Regional this Friday and Saturday at the Magness Arena from 9:00am to 4:30pm on Buchtel Blvd, off of I-25 & University Blvd. Admission is FREE. Go to http://www.coloradofirst.org/coloradoregional.htm for directions and further information. Questions about Team Blitz? Visit teamblitz.net.