Robotics Gears Up for State and Sets Their Sites on VEX Worlds!
Barb Dawson • February 21, 2025
Go, Broncos!
Montini Catholic's Robotics Team is looking forward to the end of the month when they will once again compete in the VEX Robotics State Competition (February 28-March 1, 2025). The Broncos qualified for State after their successful finish at the 3rd Great Lakes Tournament on February 15th. "This team dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort to building their robot, and it was amazing to see their hard work pay off with such a strong performance at Great Lakes," said new Head Coach Don Krystof,
who succeeds Coach Pete Farina '87
this year. Krystof and his team can't wait to see Montini Robotics compete at State for the 6th year in a row.
“With all the challenges we’ve faced this season we have still managed to overcome and improve," raved captain senior Wyatt Prater, who has transformed into a seasoned Robotics mavin during his four years at Montini. (As a sophomore, Wyatt joined brother, William Prater '23, in 2023 for the Broncos first trip to VEX Worlds.) "This year we have been to three competitions, Great Lakes 2 & 3 as well as the Great Lakes 3 skills only tournament. Our hope for State is to be top five in the skills category and get an award that will qualify us for Worlds. At Worlds, of course, we want to have fun, but we also wish to get far enough into the competition and make the playoffs for the first time in team history."
Fellow senior teammate, and another highly skilled roboticist, Matthew Silveyra, shares Wyatt's enthusiasm for State and beyond. Coincidentally, he too, shared the Worlds' spotlight in 2023 with his brother Alex Silveyra '23. "I think this season has really lived up to our team motto of 'Solve one problem - make two more.' However, despite the challenges we face, we continue to put the time and effort in to do the best we can possibly do."
"Our season has been a difficult challenge due to fewer members," added Wyatt. Typically, Montini's State teams have been comprised of ten+ members. This year's team of seven (five of whom are seniors) have worked even harder to make up the numbers. "We also have some new members in the team we are trying to teach so they continue the successful history of the program. Mr. Krystof has been great and has helped us every way he possibly could have. Right now we are all hoping we do well enough to qualify for worlds!"
VEX Robotics competitions help students develop STEM skills, like questioning, experimenting and learning in a fun environment. The competitions also help students develop communication, collaboration and time-management skills.
IMAGE ABOVE:
Montini's 2024-25 Robotics Team Members - l to r: Coach Don Krystof, Andrew Pivoney '28, Josh Brunke '25, Geethan Siram '25, Wyatt Prater '25, Matthew Silveyra '25, Isabel Jaojoco '25 and Franklin Barnes '27
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Montini Catholic in Lombard is proud to announce the senior members of their 2025 Prom Court. The king and queen will be announced and crowned during the Lasallian college preparatory high school's Prom Night on Friday, April 25th. The evening, themed - The Roaring 2020s - will be held at Bolingbrook Country Club. Class of 2025 Prom Court Members Queen Liliana Cruz Peyton Farrell Natalie Gartlan Autumn Schumerth Sienna Skarda King Nicky Castaldo Jonathan Hayes Sean Hubeny Matthew Silveyra Collins Whitfield Image above l to r: Peyton Farrell, Collins Whitfield, Natalie Gartlan, Sean Hubeny, Liliana Cruz, Nicky Castaldo, Autumn Schumerth, Matthew Silveyra, Sienna Skarda and Jonathan Hayes
We were honored to be joined at Mass on Monday, April 7th 2025 by Father Jeff Stoneberg of Christ the King Parish and Brothers Rob Veselsky, Chuck Gregor, Joel McGraw, Richard Merkel, James Gaffney, Phil Jones, Brother Kotek, Dr. Steven Torres and Brother Br. Michael Fehrenbach (with Principal Chris Tiritilli (left) and President Kevin Beirne (far right)) to celebrate the Feast Day of our Founder St. John Baptist De LaSalle. Students commemorated the 306th Anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle, Patron Saint of Teachers and Founder of our Lasallian Mission. He was a man of deep prayer, unwavering faith, and boundless compassion, devoting his life to God through service and education. "St. John Baptist De Lasalle, pray for us. Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever."
Under the direction of Fine Arts Department Chair and Music Director, Donnie Glowinski and Art Teacher Christiana Blatchley, Montini Catholic students were invited to participate in the creation of a beautiful mosaic of the Lasallian college preparatory high school's founder, St. John Baptist De Lasalle. St. John Baptiste De Lasalle was designated the Patron Saint of teachers by the Catholic Church in 1950. The artistic endeavor was an activity created as a part of Montini's celebration of Belongingness Week (March 24-28, 2025). "Belongingness Week is designed to promote a sense of inclusion, connection, and community among students and throughout the school," said Principal Chris Tiritilli. "The purpose of this week is to enhance and emphasize an environment where each student feels known, accepted, valued and supported, regardless of their background, identity, or differences. During this week, we seek to provide several experiences and activities to celebrate the things that make us each unique and special, such as the backgrounds, experiences and traditions that we come from, all while also realizing that we come together and belong as one Montini community and family." Throughout the week, each department wwas asked to organize an activity to align with one of the three main goals of the week: Building Positive Relationships, Promoting Inclusion, Increasing Self-Esteem and Emotional Well-Being. The mural was a way for Montini students to come together through a fun and artistic activity. Each piece of the mosaic symbolized an individual, with its unique shape, color, and position contributing to the overall 'masterpiece.' The final piece will be unveiled during Montini's upcoming Mass to celebrate the Feast Day of St. John Baptist De Lasalle which is April 7th.
