Team History

The Notre Dame Robotics Team, aka "The Janksters," has been participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition since 2006. Since our inception, we have been focusing on maintaining a predominantly student-run team and having a student-built robot, while maintaining a graciously professional standard.

Over the years, we've had to witness many mentors come and go. Ms. Lanzot founded the team and spearheaded the program up until the 2007 Rack 'n Roll season of FRC.

Looking back at all those years, we have really come a long way. Each season brought new hardships, new insights, and new meaning to what being a Jankster entails. The departing members of the 2006 season helped us learn the rules of the road, the basics of teamwork, and how to run a FIRST team. The 2007 Rack 'n Roll season surfaced many hardships for us, especially when Ms. Lanzot was leaving at the end of the season. A big vacuum was left in her stead.

As the new season approached, Mr. Langlands and Mr. Whitney, completely new to FIRST, stepped in as temporary mentors. The 2008 Overdrive season taught the Janksters many lessons, and the departing wisdom of the seniors of the '08 season have formed a foundation for many future years to come. Brittany Reeve '08, affectionately nicknamed "Mouse," for example, started the tradition of passing down practical seniorly wisdom to newer members via "the Binder of Collective Wisdom." Joel, The Janksters' 2008 robot also taught us a valuable lesson: to never use caster wheels.

As for the ‘09 Lunacy game, Mr. Langlands and Mr. Whitney have left and Genny is mentoring us in their place. It was this year that the Jankster’s have won their first prize, the Chrystler Team Spirit Award! This award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork. We’ve also been involved in an outreach program mentoring our sibling robotics team at St. Patrick's Middle School, where they have participated in their FIRST Lego League and Tech Challenge.