About the Team

Team 7154 The ROK (Robotics of Kingsford) is Kingsford Highs School's FIRST® Robotics Competition. The team was formed in 2018 and is led by our two coaches, Mr. Joe Kriegl and Mr. Brian Olson, who are both teachers at Kingsford High School.

Thus far, the team has competed in the following FIRST seasons: 

• 2018 FIRST POWER UPSM 

• 2019 Destination: Deep Space Presented by The Boeing Company

• 2020 INFINITE RECHARGE (shortened season due to COVID)

• 2021 At home challenges (COVID)

• 2022 Rapid React

• 2023 Charged Up

• 2024 Crescendo

Awards and Accomplishments:

• Highest Rookie Seed (Alpena 2018)

• Imagery Award (Alpena 2019)

• Qualified for States (2019)

• Christopher Burie won the Dean's List District Qualifier (Escanaba 2023)

• District Event Finalist (Escanaba 2024)

• Industrial Design Award (LSSU 2024)

• Qualified for States (2024)

The team strives to empower students at Kingsford High School to pursue their interests in learning, engineering, teamwork, and problem solving while trying to exemplify positive character and the concept of Gracious Professionalism®, as is advocated by FIRST. The team welcomes any students at Kingsford High School who want to contribute to the team and will demonstrate positive character. The headquarters of The ROK is in the adjoining room to the CAD lab (Room 307) at Kingsford High School.

Info for Potential Team Members:

• A few members may be working on projects in the pre-season, and anyone is welcome to help, but it is not necessary for most members to work much during this time.

• The actual season begins in the beginning of January with the reveal of the current game challenge. This shows what tasks the robot will need to complete and the rules for the season.

• During the season, we generally meet every day after school in the robotics room next to Mr. Kriegl's CAD lab. The coaches may not be available every day, so members should expect that practice will not happen on any given day. We will try to communicate, but this is not always possible.

• Team members do not need to come every day, but it is good to try to come as often as possible.

• Members can leave meetings whenever they need to; however, the coaches often stay until at least 5:00, if not later.

• Weekend build days may be scheduled during the crunch-time in the season, but these are optional.

• Jobs vary greatly. Some possible jobs are CAD design, assembly, fabricating, organizing, strategizing, programming, or media/website management. Particular skills are not necessary to join, and the team will strive to utilize the skills the members bring while teaching new skills. Members can talk to the coaches or student leaders to help determine the best job fits.

Our Coaches