The Beginning of TEAM 870
Former faculty member, Tony Kryl, at Southold Jr./ Sr. High School founded Team R. I. C. E. 870 in 2002. Starting as a small group navigating the intricacies of FIRST, the team achieved success in its first year, earning the Rookie All-Star award. Mr. Kryl, along with the first members of team R. I. C. E., coined Team 870’s nickname based on a motto they believed in, bringing it from their elementary school years; Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Equity (R. I. C. E.).
Summary of Team Growth
Team 870 upholds the ethos “its not about the quantity, but the quality,” emphasizing their dedication to excellence. Situated in the small school district of Southold High School on Long Island, the team reached out to Greenport High School in 2015, aiming to share FIRST ideas with more students. The backbone of the team are the mentors with diverse backgrounds who guide students in all aspects of the robotics program. From build to programming to business and marketing. Team 870 lives by the motto”effort equals results,” taking pride in their endeavors and competing with passion. Since their Rookie season in 2002, they’ve earned numerous awards, fostering confidence and STEM education pursuits among members. Graduates have gone on to diverse fields, from engineering and mathematics to business, programming and aviation. Proudly part of the FIRST robotics family, Team 870 continues to grow and succeed.
