About Us

About Team 1507, The Warlocks

The Warlocks are a group of students, teachers, parents, and mentors engaged in the competitive robotics competition known as First Robotics Competition or FRC. The FRC program was developed by Dean Kamen, the inventor famous for creating the Segway and a number of other products and is operated by FIRST Inc.

The program is designed to engage students, young adults, in an exciting and interesting way, using a sport model for it’s competitive aspect. The underlying goal is to promote creative thinking, problem solving and scientific process and to have them learn in a hands-on environment while working with Mentors from education and industry. A long term goal is to have students go on to study Science and Engineering in post-secondary education and to bring their knowledge into play to benefit their community and society.

More about FIRST Robotics

Warlocks History

In 2003, the local GM components plant had been sponsoring a number of FIRST teams across the country, including Team 378, The Circuit Stompers, in Newfane NY. As a major sponsor of FIRST, they wanted to start more teams and approached teachers at Lockport High School about forming a team.

It was decided to begin small by inviting several students and teachers to the nearby Newfane team. For two years, a core group of students and teachers participated as part of the Circuit Stompers and had two successful season while learning how a FIRST team works.

In 2005, a team application was processed and we became Team 1507. What had been one team, now was two, both sponsored by GM. We remain close with the Circuit Stompers to this day, often cooperating in activities with them.

In our first year, we came out of the gates full speed, winning Top Rookie honors at a regional in Annapolis, MD and nearly winning the first Fingerlakes Regional at RIT. We attended the Championships in Atlanta and were recognized as a strong Rookie team, but didn’t win it all.

In the seasons since then, we have had our ups and downs, but we’ve never had a really bad year. We have always put out a competitive robot. We’ve won regionals; we’ve won Championship Divisions; and we’ve won many awards recognizing some aspect of our team.

Our real success, though is just beginning to show fruit. Students from past teams have now gone through college, entered careers, are raising families and are productive members of our community. Many are now coming back to the team as Mentors and passing on their experience and enthusiasm.

Team Milestones

  • 2005 – Finger Lakes Regional Silver Medalists
    2005 – Chesapeake Regional Rookie All-Stars
    2005 – Chesapeake Regional Highest Rookie Seed
    2005 – Championships Galileo Division Highest Ranked Rookie Team
    2005 – Web Site Excellence Award
    2005 – Delphi Golden Gear Award (Best Delphi-Sponsored Team)
    2006 – Website Excellence Award
    2008 – Finger Lakes Regional Quarter-Finalist
    2008 – Finger Lakes Regional (#1 Alliance Captains)
    2008 – Greater Toronto Regional (#3 Alliance Captains)
    2008 – Greater Toronto Regional Silver Medalists
    2009 – General Motors Industrial Design Award
    2009 – Finger Lakes Regional Gold Medalist
    2009 – BRNY Cup Winner (Top Upstate NY Team)
    2009 – Philadelphia Regional Semi-Finalist
    2009 – Championships Newton Division Champion (#5 Alliance Captain)
    2010 – Excellence in Design Award sponsored by Autodesk (Category II)
    2011 – Pittsburgh Regional Best Web Site Award
    2011 – Pittsburgh Regional Coopertition Award
    2011 – Pittsburgh Regional Silver Medalists
    2012 – Finger Lakes Regional Gold Medalists (#1 Alliance Captain)
    2012 – BRNY Cup Winner (Top Upstate NY Team)
    2012 – Buckeye Regional Best Website Award
    2012 – Buckeye Regional Xerox Creativity Award
    2012 – Buckeye Regional Gold Medalists (#1 Alliance Captain)
    2012 – Championships Curie Division Quarter Finalist
    2013 – Finger Lakes Regional Creativity Award sponsored by Xerox
    2013 – Buckeye Regional Silver Medalists
    2013 – Buckeye Regional Quality Award sponsored by Motorola
    2014 – Buckeye Regional Semifinalist
    2014 – Buckeye Regional GM Industrial Design Award
    2014 – Buckeye Regional Dean’s List Finalist (Michael Primerano)
    2014 – Finger Lakes Regional Winner
    2014 – BRNY Cup Winner (Top Upstate NY Team)
    2015 – Pittsburgh Regional Semifinalist
    2015 – Finger Lakes Regional Semifinalist
    2015 – Finger Lakes Innovation in Control Award
    2016 – Greater Pittsburgh Regional Semifinalist
    2016 – Finger Lakes Regional Quarter Finalist
    2017 – Finger Lakes Regional Finalist
    2017 – Buckeye Regional Semifinalist
    2018 – Finger Lakes Regional Winner
    2018 – Finger Lakes Regional Creativity Award sponsored by Xerox
    2018 – Buckeye Regional (#7 Alliance Captain)
    2018 – Championships Carson Division (#6 Alliance Pick #3)
    2019 – Finger Lakes Regional Semifinalist
    2019 – Buckeye Regional Quarter Finalist (#6 Alliance Captain)
    2020 – Miami Valley Regional Creativity Award sponsored by Xerox
    2020 – Finger Lakes Regional Dean’s List Finalist (Andrew Hildreth)
    2021 – Ra Cha Cha Ruckus Best Autonomous Award
    2022 – Ra Cha Cha Ruckus Deadheads Award and Most Creative Award
    2023 – Finger Lakes Regional Finalist (#7 Alliance Captain)
    2023 – Buckeye Regional Semifinalist
    2024 – Dean’s List Award
    2024 – Team Spirit Award
    2024 – Imagery Award