About
History
Robocats was founded in 2005 by Harold Ellis, a Bacon Academy Tech Ed teacher, along with Keith Deslandes (father of team member, Chris Deslandes). Team 1699's first game played was in 2005, called Triple Play. After 15 years of service from Keith (“Mr. D”), the team transitioned to new leadership in 2021. Robocat Team members are Bacon Academy students in grades 9–12. The team is a Colchester Public Schools sponsored club and the district supports the program through in-kind use of Bacon Academy Tech Wing space, storage, club advisor stipend, and administrative services.
2024 Team
Back Row: Logan Lammey, Evan Paquette, Chase Vendrillo, Kevin Reas, Alex Mauldin, Nate Schulze, John Dalton,
Middle: Ian Sanders, Sam Ringuette, Charlie Rose, Callum Cuadro, Evan Lovegrove, John Marks, Mile Viggiani
Front: Sophie Melmed, Eli Banks, Taylor Gerst, Abby Belding, Julia Cavaliere, and Ben King
Missing: Landon Vigil, Patrick McGregor, TJ Crowell
2023 Team
Back Row: Tom Praisner, Cindy Praisner, Alan Mocksfield, John Spaulding, Nate Schulze, Seth Crampton, Julia Cavaliere, Logan Lammey, John Dalton, Chase Vendrillo, Charlie Rose, Alex Mauldin, Noah Auden, Sophie Melmed, Kevin Reas, and Brian Reas.
Front Row: Landon Vigil, Gabe Kruse, Eli Banks, Captain Brooke Rodgers, Robot Janky Sue, Callum Cuadro, and Captain Sam Ringuette.
Missing: Abby Belding, Jason Belding, Mark Noniewicz, Brad Graham, and Jack Spaulding
FIRST® Robotics Competition Mentors
FIRST is a mentor-based program. Mentors are adult volunteers from our community who donate a great deal of their time and effort to make Team 1699 possible. The expertise and guidance of the mentors serves as a catalyst for student learning. Mentors engage and inspire students in ways far beyond science and technology. Mentors teach, coach, guide, and lead alongside the students. They enable both students and adults to appreciate the value of sportsmanship, teamwork, and FIRST’s credo of Gracious Professionalism®.
Alan Mocksfield
Lead Mentor
Process and Programming
Application Development Director at Cigna
B.S. in Computer Science
Tom Praisner
Lead Mentor
Design and Risk Management
Fellow, Turbomachinery Aerodynamics, Pratt and Whitney
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
M.S. Computer-Integrated Mechanical Engineering Systems
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Cindy Praisner
Lead Mentor
Education and Administration
Early Childhood Coordinator
B.S. Elementary Education, M.S. Special Education, Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction
John Spaulding
Safety, Design, and Procurement
Firefighter, Paramedic, & Deputy Fire Marshal
Jason Belding
Sub-team Mentor
ABB
Seth Crampton
Programming and Electronics
Tsunami Tsolutions
B.S. Computer Science
Brad Graham
"The Old Guy"
Retired US Navy Electrician / Retired Principal Engineer from Electric Boat
BS in Computer Science / AS in Nuclear Technology
Mark Noniewicz
Build Support
Dominion Energy
Systems Engineering
Licensed Nuclear Power Plant Operator
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Brian Reas
Build Support
Superintendent of East Haddam Schools
B.A. in Economics
M.S. Education
Sixth-year Certificate in Administration
Superintendent Certificate
Lenny Viggiani
CNC Routing and Electronics
Senior Chief Petty Officer, USN (Retired)
Electronics Operations, Testing, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Jack Spaulding
Jr Mentor- Welding
Advanced Welding Certificate
In Process- AS in Welding Technology