Traverse City West High School’s FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) team, #3767 Titans, began in 2011. During our first season as an FRC team, 3767 overcame its small membership to win the Rookie All Star and Rookie Inspiration awards at District events. In its second year, 3767 was rebranded the Toxic Bots, only to return to Titan Robotics in 2013. 

2013 was also the year that we introduced team 3886, a team made with the sole purpose of giving Titan freshmen the experience of being involved in the physical work of building the robot, rather than sitting on the sidelines as can sometimes happen with rookie team members.

Titan Robotics continued in this way — with team 3767 and team 3886 — each year growing in skill and aiming ever higher. In 2016, the Titans won the district Chairman’s Award at the Escanaba event, earning a place at the Michigan State competition for the first time. In addition, one of our teammates was a Dean’s List Finalist and to top it off, that same year, our beloved freshmen-only team, 3886, made it to the Michigan State Championship as well.

Unfortunately, in 2017, we were forced to shelve team 3886 due to funding concerns. Though the team is gone, 3767 continues our commitment to giving our newest members a say, to getting them involved in building, and to teaching them through experience. 

Team 3767, now operating as one team, continued onward and upward. Since that first appearance at the Michigan State Championship in 2016, 3767 has qualified for the Michigan State Championship every year (with the exception of the COVID-19 years) and qualified for the World Championship in both 2018 and most recently in 2023.

Like most teams, the COVID-19 Pandemic wreaked havoc on our numbers and the ability to compete was limited. Since then, however 3767 has more than thrived, increasing in numbers each year and in our capabilities.

Our most recent season (2023) was remarkable. In our two district comps, the Titans ranked #2 and #5 respectively, and won the Traverse City District competition. We also qualified for the Michigan State Championships AND qualified for and competed in the World Championships in Houston, TX, where we ended up 16th in the Newton Division. At Worlds, we had the honor of competing alongside teams from Japan, China, Turkey, Israel, Mexico and of course, all over the USA — and we did this with a team that was composed of almost entirely rookies. 

The experiences of the 2023 season won’t soon be forgotten, and we look forward for what’s in store for 3767 this coming season with the 2024 competition, Crescendo, sponsored by Haas.