What exactly is a moon shot?
A moon shot is something everyone believes is impossible, but it’s something that’s achieved anyway. When high school students are asked to build a robot with little to no experience in the area, it can feel much like JFK’s challenge to reach the moon in before the end of the 60’s. Let’s celebrate that feeling. We know the FIRST Robotics Challenge is daunting. Let’s square up and face it together.
The Moonshot FRC team began as a collaboration between Gilmour Academy and North Royalton High School, but now is solely comprised of Gilmour students. The team started when seniors in the class of ’16 decided to take their budding appreciation for robotics and step into the hardest challenge around. Each year’s team gets named after a moon, with Luna as our first.

FIRST
Started by Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST was started to find a fun away to introduce STEM education to new students. FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.

ROBOTICS
Robotics encompasses metalworking, electrical engineering, 3D designing, product testing, programming, and project management. We’re building large, metal machines that can independently move, process sensory input, and make complex decisions.

COMPETITION
FRC gives us an opportunity to study academic and vocational fields in an intense, project-based context. We are grateful for the knowledge and eager for the challenge.
2018 Season Summary
This year’s Buckeye Regional FIRST Competition was intense and terrifically...
2017 Season Summary
Our robotics team, the Moonshots, performed unbelievably well this year. As it was our...
My Mistakes Starting Our...
Gilmour Academy founded its team for the FIRST Robotics Competition when Daniel...
Week 6: It’s In the Bag
Our robot was officially sealed in a bag last Tuesday, and it is now sent away until...
Week 6: The End is Nigh
The First Robotics Competition season is wrapping up. Our robot is due February 23, at...
Week 5: We Have a Robot
We have finally completed something which looks like a robot, with a finished...
Week 4: Seeing Some Results
This week we have continued our work from last week, such as finishing half of the drive...
Week 3: The Wheels are
Starting from Behind Work on the robot has finally become steady now that parts are...
Week 0: It Begins
And so it began, what we had worked towards months before kickoff. At the Tri-C campus in...
Welcome from Team Captain...
Thanks for visiting our team’s page. Feel free to reach out to us!
Our Sponsors
Robotics Supporters
Gilmour Academy
Gilmour Academy is a Catholic, independent, coeducational college-preparatory school that was founded in 1946 by the Brothers of the Holy Cross from Notre Dame, Indiana. Alumni from Gilmour Academy have shown steadfast dedication to supporting our team.
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. The university was created in 1967 by the federation of Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University. Moonshots FRC have been attending seminars hosted by the Case robotics team.
Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc., is an American provider of industrial automation and information solutions. Moonshots FRC is sponsored by Rockwell through the Rockwell Automation FRC Grant and is mentored by several of its world-class engineers. We’re grateful to have them as our neighbor and partner.
Meet the Team
Meet the Talents

Anthony Gillespie
Team Captain
Anthony has been a long-time volunteer at the Buckeye Regional. It was a shock for him to experience the competition as a participant instead. He knows what it takes and is rallying his team to go the distance.

Charlie Mendes
Software Captain
Charlie’s calm and persistent. He’s got his head down and pouring over Java syntax on his massive gaming laptop. Charlie’s got no time for drama, only debugging.

TBD
Admin Captain
Oversees fundraising, recruiting, purchasing, travel arrangements, team updates, and all of the other unromantic business that keeps the team alive.

TBD
Design Captain
Expert in the rules of this year’s game, the Design Captain will oversee the big picture to make sure that the mechanics will work reliably and within regulations.