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The Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) began in Kokomo, Indiana, in May 2000. During the 2000 and 2001 years, this event was nicknamed “Hoosier Havoc” and was hosted solely by FRC 45, TechnoKats Robotics Team.  The event was held at Kokomo’s Memorial Gymnasium with a plywood field, homemade FMS, and scored in an Excel document .  The first year had 21 teams attend, while the second year 28 teams competed.

By 2002, the event had outgrown Memorial Gym, and the decision was made to move IRI to Indianapolis.  FRC teams 234 Cyber Blue and 393 Full Metal Jackets agreed to help host the event, while to-be-formed FRC team 1024 Kil-A-Bytes agreed to be the facility host at their school, Lawrence North High School.  While the event has moved around in the past few years due to renovations, we are pleased to be back at Lawrence North for the 2025 event.

The Indiana Robotics Invitational is structured around playing the game at the elite level, with some of the highest scoring teams in the game. With the knowledge of the season, we have been able to alter some of the rules to encourage this level of play – upping point thresholds, adjusting point values, or in rare cases, no change at all. This began with the idea of IRI – at the 2000 Hoosier Havoc, the top 4 teams were allowed to choose their partners for elimination rounds, instead of being auto assigned the next highest seed as was the rule in season. Though times have changed considerably over the last 25 years, IRI’s commitment to running a top tier event is still our main goal.

Over the years, IRI has become more than just a competition for many teams. The level of play has skyrocketed each year, with the best of the best teams competing with and against each other at a single event level scale. The comradery and competition make IRI special. Each year, there has been a team party.  During the years in Kokomo, the team party was at Andy Baker’s house. Since 2002, the team party was a team meal in the LNHS cafeteria.  Then, in 2004, we started conducting a talent show after the team dinner. 

In addition to competitive play, teamwork, and fun, IRI also contributes more than $5,000 to charity via the auction, over $4,000 worth of scholarships, and backpacks that contain school supplies for 3 entire classrooms worth of students. We work with each other to help grow our community, both within and outside of FIRST Robotics.

For the past few years, teams 45, 234, and 1024 have worked closely to run this fun and competitive event.

Here is a list of historical results from past IRIs:

2024

  • Competing teams: 57
  • 🥇 Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 2910, 180, 4499
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 125, 1706, 2767, 2468
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 3 students received $2,000 scholarships:
      • Ana R, Team 5712 (AndyMark)
      • Lindsay S, Team 302 (IRI)
      • Riya D, Team 3414 (IRI)
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Brant Bowen
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • William Moore, Team 4828
  • IRI Charity Auction
    • $6,327
  • Backpacks
    • 60 Backpacks Donated

2023

  • Competing teams: 69
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2910, 2056, 1923, 7457
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 4143, 118, 1690, 3357
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 4 students received $2,000 scholarships (names not listed)
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $7,238
  • Backpacks:
    • 80 Backpacks Donated

2022

  • Competing teams: 48
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 180, 4099, 3357
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 33, 1706, 5712, 1533
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 3 students received $2,000 scholarships (names not listed)
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $5,700
  • Backpacks:
    • 80 Backpacks Donated

2021

  • No IRI 🥲 – Covid

2020

  • No IRI 🥲 – Covid

2019

  • Competing teams: 68
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 1114, 195, 1720
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 2481, 2767, 22, 1807
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 4 students received $2,000 scholarships (names not listed)
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $10,500
  • Backpacks:
    • 100 Backpacks Donated

2018

  • Competing teams: 70
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 195, 2168, 340
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 1024, 225, 2590, 868
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 4 students received $2,000 scholarships (names not listed)

2017

  • Competing teams: 68
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 1619, 195, 2590, 1710
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 2767, 118, 3452, 1018
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • Connor L, Team 292 (AndyMark)
    • Connie W, Team 1987 (Rolls-Royce)
    • Valerin H, Team 51 (Innovation FIRST / VEX)
    • Mitchel H, Team 503 (Allison Transmission)
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award:
    • Jeff Smith (1024), Jeff Maberto (1024), Lawrence Township
  • IRI Mentor of the Year:
    • Allen Gregory, Spectrum 3847
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year:
    • Andrew Corrington
  • IRI Talent Show:
    • That ONE Team, Team 4967
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $4494
    • (Total of $53,744 donated since 2004)
    • Donated To:
      • Riley Children’s Hospital
      • Kokomo Humane Society Building Fund
      • Lawrence Township Foundation
  • Backpacks:
    • 147 Backpacks Donated
    • Over 1550 donated since 2004

2016

  • Competing teams: 69
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 118, 33, 4587
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 1114, 195, 225, 1405
  • Scholarship Winners: (All scholarships are $2000)
    • Abigail M, Team 1086 (Marcia Beatty)
    • Perry O, Team 33 (AndyMark)
    • Elizabeth B, Team 234 (Rolls-Royce)
    • Ethan E, Team 2056 (Innovation FIRST / VEX)
    • Morgan B, Team 3620 (IRI / IRI Teams)
  • VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
    • Liz Smith, AndyMark
  • INDIANA FIRST® FOUNDATIONS
    • Bill Beatty, Team 71
  • IRI MENTOR OF THE YEAR
    • Mike Dininny, Team 233
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $3750 for Riley Hospital, Bridges Outreach, and The Cupboard
    • Total Silent Auction Funds to Date – $49,250!
  • Backpacks
    • 156 Backpacks Donated
    • Total Backpacks Collected to Date – 1406!

2015

  • Competing teams: 67
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 1023, 1806, 2502
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 118, 2826, 1640, 67
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 4 students received $2,000 scholarships:
      • Luke H, Team 234 (IFI Robotics)
      • Brandon K, Team 2338 (AndyMark)
      • Emily C, Team 1325 (IRI)
      • Andrew L, Team 27 (Rolls-Royce)
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Chris Noble
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Eyal Hershko, Team 1657
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Brett Heininger
  • IRI Talent Show:
    • Lip Sync Winners – Jacob Komar, Nikki Panda
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $3,700
  • Backpacks:
    • 121 Donated
  • Blood Drive:
    • 20 Units Donated

2014

  • Competing teams: 68
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 2056, 469, 1625, 4039
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 254, 1114, 330, 2013

2013

  • Competing teams: 69
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC Teams 1114, 2056, 1334, 2337
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC Teams 1310, 67, 3476, 862
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 5 students received $2,000 scholarships:
      • Randy L, Team 148 (Innovation FIRST / VEX)
      • Kathy C, Team 234 (Allison Transmission)
      • Sam M, Team 11 (AndyMark)
      • Anavir S, Team 1241 (IRI / IRI Teams)
      • Eric H (Marcia Beatty & IRI)
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Brant & Chelsea Bowen
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Jim Irvine, Team 2175
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • “Koko Ed” Patterson
  • IRI Talent Show:
    • Bobby Van Ness, Team 20
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $6,264
  • Backpacks:
    • Over 115 Donated

2012

  • Competing teams: 70
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 2826, 1114, 4334, 245
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC teams 1023, 33, 51, 330
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 7 students received $2,000 scholarships:
      • Kaitlin Lostroscio, Team 233 (Allison Transmission)
      • Jason Law, Team 2834 (Rolls-Royce)
      • Dakota Ewigman, Team 1730 (AndyMark)
      • Sarah Littel, Team 1024 (Techpoint Foundation for Youth)
      • Loren Christley-Kruer, Team 1024 (Interactive Intelligence Foundation – $2,500)
      • Taylor Nicholson, Team 1114 (Innovation FIRST / VEX)
      • Joshua Adkins, Team 3138 (IRI / IRI Teams)
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Laura Dodds
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Brandon Holley, Team 125
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Alan Anderson, Team 45
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $3,200
    • Beneficiaries: Hunger Food Bank, Samaritan Caregivers
  • Backpacks:
    • 104 Donated
    • Over 850 Donated to Date

2011

  • Competing teams: 66
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 33, 2056, 217, 359
  • 🥈Finalist teams: FRC teams 3138, 16, 2122, 1730
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 8 students received $2,000 scholarships (names listed):
      • CJ Burchfield, Team 234
      • Samir Shaikh, Team 1501
      • Stacey Willick, Team 1114
      • Niklas Olsen, Team 2826
      • Kendra Grossman, Team 1024
      • Rachel Goubert, Team 1718
      • Kathryn Widen, Team 1675
      • Matthew Coffey, Team 1114
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Jason Zielke (1024 and Precise Path Robotics)
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Jon Jack, Team 1538
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Paul Copioli, Team 217
    • Dan Green, Team 111
  • IRI Talent Show:
    • Ian Hatzillas, Team 217
  • Backpacks:
    • 90 Donated
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $4,700

2010

  • Competing teams: 79
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 330, 469, 359, 399
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • 10 students received $2,000 scholarships (names listed):
      • Charles Wense, Team 148
      • Justin Chan, Team 1732
      • Kelsey Draus, Team 2949
      • Kelli Fultz, Team 234
      • Claire Libutdi, Team 217
      • Miranda Goelz, Team 234
      • Ken Beckwith, Team 45
      • Chelsea Antilla, Team 1718
      • Carlee Andre, Team 1529
      • Patrick Cudzilo, Team 71
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Andy Baker and Mark Koors, AndyMark, Inc.
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Jim Zondag, Team 33
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Brant Bowen
  • IRI Talent Show:
    • Dane Christianson, Team 2949
  • Backpacks:
    • 80 Donated
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • $4,425

2009

  • Competing teams: 72
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 1625, 68, 469, 16
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Steve Florence, Team 461
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • David Berggren, Team 1538
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Mike Carmain, Team 45

2008

  • Competing teams: 70
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 67, 330, 987, 68
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Terri Schulz – Department of Workforce Development & Project Lead the Way
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Stephanie Thompson, Team 1503
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Jeff Maberto, Team 1024

2007

  • Competing teams: 72
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 111, 1114, 494, 2056
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Scott Ritchie, Team 234
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Mike Martus, Team 47

2006

  • Competing teams: 65
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 71, 1625, 910
  • Indiana FIRST® Foundations Award
    • Scott Ritchie, Team 234
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Steve Florence, Team 461

2005

  • Competing teams: 60
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 33, 233, 868
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Marian Passmore, Team 233

2004

  • Competing teams: 60
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 71, 980, 269
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Scott Vierstra, Team 892

2003

  • Competing teams: 48
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 308, 27, 469
  • Scholarship Winners:
    • Not listed
  • IRI Mentor of the Year
    • Not listed
  • IRI Volunteer of the Year
    • Not listed
  • Backpacks:
    • Not listed
  • IRI Charity Auction:
    • Not listed

2002

  • Competing teams: 29
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 201, 469, 68

2001

  • Competing teams: 28
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 308, 111, 469, 85

2000

  • Competing teams: 21
  • 🥇Winning teams: FRC teams 1, 65, 240

Photos credit to https://www.frcarchive.com/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/indianaroboticsinvitational/albums/

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