The Manassas City School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 8, opened with a series of uplifting spotlights showcasing the accomplishments of students and staff across the school division.
From regional wrestling champions to student coders designing robots, the evening was filled with celebration, applause, and pride in student success.
Osbourn Robotics Team Engineers a Win
The night concluded with a crowd-pleasing demonstration from the Osbourn High School Robotics Team. Coach Leonard Newman introduced the team’s student leaders and rolled in their robot—named FLIC, short for “Forklift Certified”—which they built for this year’s FIRST Robotics competition.
The robot, which extends from 3.5 to 6 feet tall, was designed to complete tasks like moving coral-shaped PVC pipes and hanging from structures. The team competed in two regional events, placing 7th and earning the Quality Award at their first competition in Glen Allen, and securing a spot at the FIRST Chesapeake District Championship.
At the championship, held April 4–6 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Osbourn’s robot briefly held the high score of the event and marked the fourth consecutive year the team has advanced to this level—a streak unmatched by any other team in Prince William County.
Student team leads recognized included MJ Yassa (project manager), Reese Bambara (mechanical), Damas Gonzalez-Ramos (electrical), Sofia Abanez and Eric Hurtado-Hinojosa (software), Theo Wainer (scouting), and Megan Pope (business).
Newman credited not only the students but a dedicated group of parents, sponsors—including Lockheed Martin and Aurora Flight Sciences—and Osbourn administrators for their continued support.
“Every bolt, wire, and piece of code reflects their dedication,” he said
Metz Wrestlers Pin Down Victory
Metz Middle School Athletic Director Anola Douglas, joined by Head Coach Tim Tibbs and Assistant Coach Cruz Martinez, recognized several standout members of the school’s wrestling team. The team recently competed at the regional level, held at Brentsville High School, where they brought home multiple awards.
Eighth-grader Anthony “Gary” Mayer was named the regional champion in the heavyweight division. Other student-athletes honored included Julius Quinn (first place), Darian Escobar (second place), Oliver Young (third place), and Luis Martinez (fourth place).
Music Students Hit High Notes
Douglas, who also serves as Metz’s choir director, returned to highlight student vocalists selected for the All-District Chorus. Eleven students were selected out of 15 who auditioned, an impressive showing for the school. The students also earned superior ratings—top honors—in their district music assessment.
Band Directors Bill Stevens and Jess Leggett continued the accolades, announcing that two Metz band students were recognized in the district’s honor band: Jack Young (first trumpet) and Matthew Worms (top mallet player). The Metz advanced band earned a superior overall rating in their recent performance assessment.
Orchestra Director Gabe Stackauer also shared that Metz’s advanced orchestra earned an excellent rating, including a superior score in sight-reading, during its district-wide evaluation.
