When you think of Deerfield’s robotics team, what words come to mind? Actually, before that, are you even aware that Deerfield has a robotics team? Perhaps you’ve seen them scurrying around the Koch with a giant teddy bear or you’ve glossed over their name in
the acknowledgments of a theater program. Either way, regardless of how acquainted you are with the team, I’m willing to guess that “strong” was not one of the words you associated with the team. But team captain Emma Wilmott ’24 was determined to change that. She rallied the group for a fateful team lift on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Of the twelve robotics members, all but one joined in on the team lift. The nonparticipant, who wished to stay anonymous, said “I don’t feel like it,” as the reason for their absence, which Wilmott reluctantly accepted. Any gym-goer lucky enough to witness the robotics team lift might remember the sudden influx of ill-prepared teens clad in matching robotics team shirts, somelacking water bottles, and some in the wrong shoes. Several members had yet to be gym certified or swipe their OneCard since certification, including the anonymous nonparticipant who to this day has not entered the gym on their own OneCard. Suffice to say, the gathering of the team in the unfamiliar realm was a monumental first – and probably last…
The team had a strange way of using the machines. Seats were lowered too far, weights were maxed out, and attempts were made to push on handles meant to be pulled. Their evident lack of gym expertise prompted repeated approaches by the trainers, who kindly asked the team if they needed assistance, though each offer was declined. Instead, the group traveled through the gym like a tour group: forming a huddle at each machine and watching as each member of the team took their turn. According to Austin Zhang ’25, the team learned a lot from the gym session. Zhang mentioned that teammate Albert Yuk ’26 could do “a scary amount of pull-ups,” and that “the abs machine has many degrees of freedom.” Zhang applauded himself for “lifting 135” on the leg press before Kevin Yang ’25 reminded him “You only lifted 135sin(40°).” Turns out freshman year physics is useful after all.
As the team walked out of the gym victorious, some, still feeling the hope of New Year’s Resolutions, made promises to return. Others, scarred by ego-fuelled overexertion and peer-pressured extra weights, did the opposite. In the end, fearless leader Wilmott walked away from the gym content, saying, “Well that’s enough public embarrassment for one day.”
Best of luck to those who made promises, because the soreness they woke up to the next day is surely testing their resolve.Pumping Plastic