MERRIMACK, NH – After a fierce but friendly robotics competition over the April 3-5 weekend during the New England District Championships held at “The Big E” – The Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Mass., – Merrimack High School’s Chop Shop 166 came through with enough heart to be invited to compete in the World Championships April 16-19 in Houston.
The team went 7-5 in the qualifying rounds and was picked by the Captain of Alliance #8 to play in the playoffs, but after a couple of matches they were eliminated from the playoffs.
Although they were eliminated from the competition, this has been one of the most successful years in Chop Shop history with four medals and one blue banner. This year they won the Impact Award, the Engineering Inspiration Award, and finished as Event Finalist, twice.
At the District Championship, Chop Shop won the Gracious Professionalism Award, which is given to the team that exemplifies FIRST’s core values such as discovery, innovation, inclusion, impact, teamwork and fun.
“Chop Shop attended the District Championships this past weekend where we earned the Gracious Professionalism Award, a cornerstone principle of the FIRST community,” said Ian MacGregor, a Mentor on Chop Shop 166. “On top of that, we have received an invitation to compete in the World Championships in Houston. Well done Chop Shop! Houston, here we come!”
To receive an invitation to the FIRST Championship, teams compete in their local regional or district competitions to earn “district points.” They earn district points for how they place in a competition and for the awards they win throughout the year. Going into the District Championship, Chop Shop was ranked 25th in the New England District and after the District Championship they had enough points to earn an invitation to Houston.
“It means everything to be able to go to the World Championships this year,” said Tim B, Co-Captain of Chop Shop 166. “We’ve put in so much work towards improving our team and it’s wonderful to see something as great as this come of it.”
Chop Shop has attended three of the last four World Championships in Houston. The last time Chop Shop attended the World Championship was in 2023 after winning the Impact Award at the New England District Championship.
Tim B added, “The team couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity, and it looks like we’ll see checkered flags in Houston once again!”
You can watch Chop Shop 166 compete live on the Curie Field via Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires_curie on Thursday (4/17) and Friday (4/18). More information and math schedules are available at FIRST Championship.
To assist with the cost to travel to FIRST Championships the team has started a Go Fund Me for people to make a donation. https://gofund.me/91741d31
About Merrimack High School Robotics Club
Chop Shop 166 is a FIRST Robotics Competition Team from Merrimack, New Hampshire. First formed in 1995, Chop Shop 166 is celebrating their 31st season with FIRST.
More information can be found at https://www.chopshop166.com/home
To donate or to become a sponsor of the Merrimack FIRST Robotics Team Chop Shop 166, visit https://www.chopshop166.com/sponsorships.