Draft:Southeast Valley Robotics

Submission declined on 31 August 2026 by FlammablePizza (talk).

This draft reads like an advertisement. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a platform for promotion or marketing. Drafts that are exclusively promotional may be deleted without notice.

Wikipedia articles must be written neutrally in a formal, impersonal, and dispassionate way. They should not read like a blog post, advertisement, or fan page. Rewrite the draft to remove:

promotional language: see Words to watch;
personal commentary: opinions or direct addresses to the reader;
informal language.

Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject.

If you have a conflict of interest (e.g. you are the subject, an employee, or a relative) or are being paid to edit, you must disclose this to comply with Wikipedia's Terms of Use.

This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for organizations and companies. The draft requires multiple published secondary sources that:

provide significant coverage: discuss the subject in detail, excluding routine coverage like product launches, staff appointments, or financial reports and listings in databases or listicles;
are reliable: from reputable outlets with editorial oversight;
are independent: not connected to the subject, such as press releases, the subject's own website, or sponsored content.

Please add references that meet all three of these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.

If you would like to continue working on the submission, click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window.
If you have not resolved the issues listed above, your draft will be declined again and potentially deleted.
If you need extra help, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors.
Please do not remove reviewer comments or this notice until the submission is accepted.

Where to get help

If you need help editing or submitting your draft, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. These venues are only for help with editing and the submission process, not to get reviews.
If you need feedback on your draft, or if the review is taking a lot of time, you can try asking for help on the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. Some WikiProjects are more active than others so a speedy reply is not guaranteed.

How to improve a draft

Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia – a basic overview on how to edit Wikipedia.
Help:Wikitext – how to use the markup
Help:Referencing for beginners – how to include references
Wikipedia:Article development – how to develop your article
Wikipedia:Writing better articles – how to improve your article
Wikipedia:Verifiability – make sure your article includes reliable third-party sources

You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article.

Improving your odds of a speedy review

To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags.

Add tags to your draft

Editor resources

Easy tools: Citation bot (help) | Advanced: Fix bare URLs

Declined by FlammablePizza 2 months ago. Last edited by FlammablePizza 2 months ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

Resubmit

Please note that if the issues are not fixed, the draft will be declined again.

Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. ~2026-47543-07 (talk) 17:15, 31 August 2026 (UTC)

Southeast Valley Robotics JagWIRES • bOwbOtz • Awkward Turtlebots Building Robots. Building Skills. Building Community.

Robotics at Southeast Valley High School in Gowrie, Iowa, gives students the opportunity to turn ideas into working machines while developing skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, creativity, communication, and teamwork.

Southeast Valley's robotics program is made up of three FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams: JagWIRES, bOwbOtz, and Awkward Turtlebots. Each team designs, builds, programs, tests, and operates robots to compete in FTC competitions. Along the way, students learn how to solve problems, overcome unexpected challenges, collaborate with teammates, and apply classroom concepts to real-world engineering projects.

Although competition is an important part of robotics, the program is about much more than winning matches. Students learn from successes and failures, share ideas, work with other teams, and represent Southeast Valley High School and the surrounding community.

Meet the Teams JagWIRES — FTC Team 13416

JagWIRES is the oldest of Southeast Valley's three robotics teams. According to official FIRST Tech Challenge records, Team 13416 began competing in 2017 and is based in Gowrie, Iowa. The team is sponsored by Southeast Valley High School.

After years of competition, JagWIRES has developed experience in many areas of FTC robotics, including mechanical design, programming, robot operation, engineering strategy, and teamwork. Each season brings a new challenge, requiring the team to rethink its designs and find new ways to improve its robot.

Being a long-standing team also gives JagWIRES an opportunity to help build the foundation of Southeast Valley's robotics program. Experienced members can share knowledge with newer students and help create a culture where teams learn from one another.

Team: 13416 Name: JagWIRES Rookie Year: 2017 Location: Gowrie, Iowa Organization: Southeast Valley High School

bOwbOtz — FTC Team 15071

The bOwbOtz are another long-standing part of Southeast Valley's robotics program. FIRST lists Team 15071 as a Gowrie, Iowa team with a rookie year of 2018.

The bOwbOtz have competed alongside JagWIRES at Iowa FTC events, giving Southeast Valley a strong presence at competitions. In FTC, teams frequently find themselves competing against one another in one match and working together in the next.

For example, records from a January 2025 competition show JagWIRES and bOwbOtz participating in matches with different alliance partners. This highlights an important part of FIRST robotics: cooperation is just as important as competition.

Students must communicate with alliance partners, develop strategies together, and adjust their plans during matches. These experiences teach skills that extend beyond robotics, including leadership, communication, flexibility, and teamwork.

Team: 15071 Name: bOwbOtz Rookie Year: 2018 Location: Gowrie, Iowa Organization: Southeast Valley High School

Awkward Turtlebots — FTC Team 32248

The newest addition to Southeast Valley's robotics program is the Awkward Turtlebots, FTC Team 32248.

FIRST lists the team as being from Gowrie, Iowa, with a rookie year of 2025. The team officially joined JagWIRES and bOwbOtz during the 2025 season.

A November 2025 report in The Gowrie News described the Awkward Turtlebots as the new team joining Southeast Valley's two returning teams. All three teams participated in their first competition of the 2025 season on November 1, 2025.

The creation of a third team is an important step for the Southeast Valley robotics program. A new team means more students can participate, discover an interest in engineering and technology, and gain hands-on experience. As these students develop their skills, they can contribute to the growth of the entire robotics program.

Team: 32248 Name: Awkward Turtlebots Rookie Year: 2025 Location: Gowrie, Iowa Organization: Southeast Valley High School

What Is FIRST Tech Challenge?

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a robotics competition designed for students to build and operate robots while solving a new engineering challenge each season.

FTC combines several different areas of learning. Students may work on mechanical systems one day, programming the robot the next, and then switch to strategy, documentation, outreach, or team organization.

A typical FTC season can involve:

Designing and building a robot Programming autonomous and driver-controlled actions Testing and troubleshooting Developing match strategies Practicing with alliance partners Maintaining engineering documentation Preparing for competitions Presenting the team's work Learning from other teams

The competition environment encourages students to be both competitors and collaborators.

More Than Just Building Robots

One of the most valuable parts of robotics is that there isn't just one job to do.

A successful team needs students with different interests and strengths. Some students enjoy designing mechanical systems, while others prefer programming. Some are interested in driving the robot, analyzing competition data, creating presentations, documenting the engineering process, or helping the team communicate with the community.

Engineering

Students use engineering principles to design mechanisms that can accomplish specific tasks. They build prototypes, test different ideas, identify problems, and make improvements.

Programming

FTC robots rely on software to control their movements and mechanisms. Students learn how to write, test, debug, and improve code.

Strategy

A great robot still needs a great strategy. Teams analyze the game, study their opponents, determine which scoring opportunities are most valuable, and make decisions during matches.

Teamwork

FTC matches are played in alliances, meaning teams must cooperate with other teams. Students learn how to communicate clearly, divide responsibilities, and work toward a shared goal.

Creativity

There are often many possible solutions to a robotics problem. Students have to think creatively and find designs that are effective, reliable, and practical.

Problem Solving

Robots rarely work perfectly on the first attempt. Something may break, a mechanism may behave unexpectedly, or a program may not perform as planned. Students learn to diagnose problems and develop solutions.

How a Robotics Season Works

A robotics season is a continuous cycle of design, build, test, compete, and improve.

1. Learn the Game

At the beginning of a new season, teams learn the year's FTC challenge and identify the rules, scoring opportunities, and engineering requirements.

2. Brainstorm

Students discuss possible robot designs and mechanisms. Teams consider questions such as:

What tasks should our robot be able to perform? Which mechanisms will be reliable? How can we make the robot fast and efficient? What designs can we build with the resources available? 3. Build

Ideas become physical prototypes. Students design parts, assemble mechanisms, test materials, and construct the robot.

4. Program

The programming team develops software that allows the robot to operate autonomously and under driver control.

5. Test and Improve

Testing reveals weaknesses. Teams make adjustments, repair broken components, improve code, and continue testing until the robot becomes more reliable.

6. Compete

At competitions, teams put their work to the test. Matches require quick decisions, communication, driving skills, and teamwork with alliance partners.

7. Learn and Adapt

Every competition provides new information. Teams can take what they learned and use it to improve their robot and strategy for the next event.

Competition and Cooperation

One of the unique features of FIRST Tech Challenge is the relationship between competition and cooperation.

During a match, teams compete as alliances. A team may face another Southeast Valley team across the field, but at another event—or even another match—it may need to work alongside that same team.

This teaches students that success isn't always about working alone. Teams need to communicate with alliance partners, understand different robot capabilities, and develop strategies that allow everyone to contribute.

This philosophy helps make robotics more than a traditional sports competition. Students are competing, but they are also learning from one another and helping grow the robotics community.

Growing the Southeast Valley Robotics Program

The development of Southeast Valley's three-team program shows how robotics can grow within a school community.

JagWIRES began competing in 2017. bOwbOtz followed in 2018. In 2025, the Awkward Turtlebots became the third Southeast Valley FTC team.

Together, the three teams provide more opportunities for students to get involved in STEM and hands-on engineering.

As students move through the program, they can develop skills that benefit them in high school, college, careers, and everyday life. They learn how to approach complicated problems, work with people who have different ideas, communicate effectively, and keep working when something doesn't go according to plan.

Robotics in the Community

Southeast Valley robotics is also an opportunity for students to represent Gowrie and the surrounding communities.

Competitive robotics brings students, families, mentors, teachers, and community members together. Competitions give teams a chance to showcase their work, while outreach and community activities can introduce younger students to STEM and encourage them to consider participating in robotics in the future.

A strong robotics program can become a source of pride for a school and community because students are demonstrating what they can accomplish through creativity, persistence, and teamwork.

The Future of Southeast Valley Robotics

With three FTC teams, Southeast Valley has created opportunities for students at different experience levels to participate in competitive robotics.

The addition of the Awkward Turtlebots in 2025 represents another step in the program's growth. New students can learn alongside experienced members, while returning students can develop leadership skills by helping others.

The future of Southeast Valley robotics will depend on the students who continue to build, program, compete, and share what they learn.

Three teams. One school. Countless possibilities.

Support Southeast Valley Robotics

Robotics programs depend on more than students and robots. Teams benefit from teachers, mentors, families, community members, sponsors, and volunteers.

There are many ways to support Southeast Valley robotics:

Encourage students to participate Attend competitions Volunteer or mentor Provide technical expertise Support fundraising efforts Help provide tools and materials Share the teams' accomplishments Encourage younger students to explore STEM

Every contribution helps students gain hands-on experience and gives them another opportunity to learn.

Get Involved

Interested in Southeast Valley Robotics?

Whether you are a student who wants to build a robot, a programmer who wants to write code, a student interested in engineering, or someone who simply wants to support the teams, there is a place for you.

JagWIRES, bOwbOtz, and Awkward Turtlebots are helping students turn ideas into reality—one robot, one challenge, and one season at a time.