FARMINGTON -- A Farmington High School junior lost a friend in a moped accident last fall and lost his right foot, yet he pushed on to compete as a one-person robotics team in memory of his team partner.
Remington Haingaertner won the state championship with his robot and received the Judge's award for Best Team at the world competition last month.
Remington called his team Nemesis Robotics, which in Greek means "unstoppable," and he named his robot Grant White after his friend.
Remington and Grant, both Farmington students, were riding a moped on Wedington Drive in Fayetteville on Nov. 14, 2016, when a vehicle failed to stop and struck their moped, destroying the bike.
Grant died in the accident. Remington lost his foot and fractured his femur.
His father, Shane Haingaertner, recalls the incident. He said Remington was on drugs in the hospital. He decided to wait and tell Remington about Grant's death and about losing part of his right leg until he was more conscious.
When he gave his son the news, Haingaertner said Remington's response was "All right...Let's move on."
"Being so close to 18, he's been a man before he turned 18," Haingaertner said. "He just won't quit. I'm just along for the ride."
Remington already had been working to participate in the Vex Robotics competition when Grant joined him as a team member.
Vex Robotics challenges teams of students to design, program and build a robot to play against other teams. The 2017 game was called Star Struck and the robots had to pick up large yellow stars and cubes and toss them across fences to score points.
After the accident, Remington wasn't sure if he could compete with only one leg. He pressed on, was fitted with a prosthetic in January and in February received enough sponsor money to purchase parts for his robot.
"I'd already come so far and knew I could do it," Remington said.
Most teams participating in Vex Robotics have an average of five to 15 members. Remington's team this year was the only one with one person.
In addition, most teams have about nine months to work on their robots.
Remington built his robot in one month. His robot has more than 150 individual parts, 12 motors and two batteries. Remington designed the robot, ordered the parts online and built it himself.
Another disadvantage, he said, was that most teams set up a practice course in an arena so they are prepared for the contests. Remington did not have an arena to set up a practice course.
His first competition was held on Feb. 25 in Bentonville. He was in the top 15 for a skills portion of the competition which qualified him for the state tournament.
Remington won the Arkansas State Championship in Russellville for his division and that qualified him for the 10th annual Vex Robotics World competition held in Louisville, Ky., on April 19-25.
The world competition kicks off with a parade, similar to the opening ceremony for the Olympics. For 2017, 1,400 top teams competed from 46 states and 32 countries. Around 20,000 fans showed up to cheer on the participants.
Each team competes in 10 matches and then the top teams, based on scores, advance. Remington said he came in last place for his division but said he still considers himself a winner.
"I believe I've won," he said. "With what I've done, and going through all I have, it's quite an accomplishment."
He was excited to receive the Judge's award for Best Team and said this award was based on interviews with the judges.
Remington said he plans to compete in the 2018 Vex Robotics competition. He's not sure yet if he will recruit any other team members. His other future plans include taking classes at a trade school before moving on to college. Ideally, he said he would love to go to Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
General News on 05/24/2017