DENHAM SPRINGS, La. – Denham Venom, the FIRST Robotics Competition team at Denham Springs High School, won the Indiana Robotics Invitational on July 18 in Indianapolis, defeating the event's top-seeded alliance in the finals.
Competition in the Indiana Robotics Invitational is by invitation only. Teams cannot earn a spot by winning during the season. They must apply, and organizers select the field.
Three years ago, Denham Venom became the first Louisiana team invited to the event. This year's field of 50 included 21 teams ranked among the top 100 in the world and two that reached the final field at the FIRST World Championship.
Denham Venom finished second out of the 50 teams in qualifying play and went undefeated through the playoff rounds to capture the win.
“This victory closes a season in which the Denham Springs team won the Pikes Peak, Magnolia, and Bayou regionals, becoming the first Louisiana team in FIRST Robotics history to win three regional competitions in a single year,” said Denham Venom Coach Daniel Eiland. He said the team went on to finish third in the Hopper Division at the FIRST World Championship in Houston in April and ended the season ranked 26th in the world out of more than 3,700 teams.
“We are very proud of the students’ accomplishments. Their diligence in mastering their knowledge and skill in robotics has resulted in significant victories and well-deserved recognition,” he said.
Eiland noted that the Louisiana House of Representatives commended the program earlier this year with House Resolution 153.
“For most coaches, this is an event you watch other programs attend,” Eiland said. “Our students walked into a room no one expected them to be in and proved they belonged.”
