Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School’s robotics teams delivered a stellar performance at the Williamson Fall Classic this past weekend, demonstrating excellence and innovation on a competitive state stage. Competing against some of the best robotics teams in Tennessee, both OLPH teams emerged as top contenders in every category.
The Yellow Team, composed of McCall Webster, Simon Tartar, Hannah Ta, Khloe Macias and Cora Wesson, earned the Build Award, recognizing their exceptional engineering and design skills.
The Red Team, featuring Davide DeStefano, Gustavo Holguin, Stallings Elder, Matthew Leon and Colton Sanders, brought home the Excellence Award—the highest honor in robotics.
"This is a monumental achievement," said Coach Don Jacobson.
"Excellence Awards have been few and far between this season, with only a handful given across the U.S. This award is a testament to our students’ hard work and determination. It’s also the first time any team in Tennessee has met the criteria to earn this award at a competition this season. We are incredibly proud."
The Excellence Award qualifies the Red Team for the Tennessee State Championship, solidifying their place among the top robotics programs in the state. In addition, both teams have now qualified to compete at the U.S. Create National Robotics Championship in Iowa, which will take place in March 2025.
"The victory at Brentwood is particularly significant, as the Nashville area is home to some of the most established and competitive robotics programs in the state. Winning here proves that OLPH Robotics has not only caught up but can compete head-to-head with larger programs,” Coach Jacobson said.
Officials said, "This milestone marks an extraordinary week for OLPH Robotics, with the program securing five trophies in just eight days. Coach Jacobson invites the OLPH community to join in celebrating these exceptional students and their accomplishments."