Members

Bethany Shotyk

I, Bethany Shotyk, love Team Overdrive. I am a eighteen year old senior in high school and I’ve been homeschooled since 4th grade. I am a Christian and love working with my church. I teach a pre-K Sunday school class and I’m part of the youth group worship team. For past five years I’ve gone to Dominican Republic every summer for a mission’s trip. While there I helped build houses. That is where I found out that I like to build, which was a key factor in my joining Team Overdrive. I was on the team during the first two years when we were part of FVC/FTC. I took a break last year because of a crazy schedule and missed it terribly. After some schedule shifting I was able to be part of the team this year. I am loving every minute of it and cannot wait for all-nighters, long drive and chaos before competitions, where we will proceed to rock FIRST’s socks off.

John Lerchbacker

Greetings and salutations! My name is John Lerchbacker. I am a high school senior, and I’ve been home-schooled my whole life. I love the in-depth academics and the somewhat more flexible schedule provided by homeschooling. I have been very active in sports (baseball, basketball, and swim team) and a number of extracurricular activities such as piano, community service, and most notably Royal Rangers. Royal Rangers operates like Boy Scouts and is active throughout the United States and over 73 countries world-wide. I’ve earned my Gold Medal of Achievement (comparable to the Eagle Scout) and several other awards; however, my most notable Ranger’s accomplishment is earning the title “National Ranger of the Year” in 2008 after years of study and preparation. Royal Rangers has helped develop and hone my leadership skills as well as provide fun opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and meet friends from around the country and the world.

As an avid reader and an intellectually curious individual I enjoy going as deeply into the subjects I am studying as possible. Because of this I got involved in Revolutionary War re-enacting. I thoroughly enjoy dressing up, shooting my black powder rifle, and throwing knives and tomahawks. I actually hold National rankings (third and forth place) in knife and hawk throwing. Looking for a new challenge and a new set of skills to learn and develop, I joined Team Overdrive. Aspiring to be an engineer, I also hope to gain some experience working in a technical environment where I can apply my calculus and science studies. I love the atmosphere of competition, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the FRC events I have attended as a member of Team Overdrive. GO OVERDRIVE!

James Wittel

My name is James Wittel I am 18 years old. My interests are Robotics, C++ programming, Photography, Videography, Biomedical Mechanical Engineering and Archeology. I also enjoy restoring my classic car (1968 Volvo P1800) and building specialty computers. This is my seventh year participating in FIRST robotic competitions. Two years ago I was on the world champion FTC Team Overdrive. Last year we were the FRC Archimedes Division Winners and Rookie Highest Seed.

After College I would like to go into Military Weapons Research, Biomedical Mechanical Engineering and Archeology. I own my own company called JPEX Productions. I have been home schooled all my life. I am also one of the original members of Teen Technology’s Team Overdrive.

Kevin Fritz

Hi my name is Kevin Fritz and I am a home-educated senior in high school student who choose to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition this year. I have been home educated since 5th grade and I really enjoy the freedom that it gives me. For the last three years I have competed in the First Tech Challenge, including winning the world championship in 2008. I also have conducted mathematical and computer science research which I have presented at the North Jersey Regional Science Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). At ISEF I also won an award to compete in the Taiwan International Science Fair, where I placed second in the mathematics category last February. During my free time I also enjoy playing AAU basketball and playing trombone in a jazz band.

Gina Scalzo

Hello! My name is Gina Scalzo. I am 17 years old and a homeschooled Senior in High School. I reside in Kenilworth, NJ with my 3 sisters, mom, and dad. I am actively involved in my church by videotaping Sunday morning services, attending a Wednesday night girls’ Bible study, and volunteering at other various activities. I take a Gymnastics class twice a week and I plan on taking skiing lessons this year as well. Anyone who knows me will testify that I am a big sports fan, so it’s not surprising that I can usually be found listening to 660am WFAN (a sports radio station), keeping up on the latest info about players and teams online, or watching my favorite teams (the New York Giants and New York Mets) play. My father works at Ethicon, which has sponsored Robbe Xtreme, a FIRST Robotics Competition team, for many years. That is where I got my first introduction to robotics. I actually got many chances year after year to drive the robots that they showed us at Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work day, but I never thought that I would be able to be on a FIRST robotics team because I am homeschooled. Then my dreams became a reality. During my freshman and sophomore years, I became a member of Team Overdrive’s FTC team and we went on to win the World Championship in 2008! Last year, when I was a junior, I decided to join Team Overdrive in making the leap to FRC and we made it all the way to the World Championships and the final field of competition: Einstein! This year I am so excited to be competing again on Team Overdrive and in FRC. What I am looking forward to the most is being able to continue my responsibilities in strategy and scouting for our team and training newer team members for taking on the responsibilities when I graduate. Some of the things I enjoy doing are analyzing, debating, strategizing, competing, problem solving, finishing tasks, and having fun with friends. I also enjoy volunteering at FIRST events and I plan on continuing to do so for a long time because they have impacted my life so greatly. As of right now, I am planning on pursuing a career in statistics, specifically in sports broadcasting. I am glad that I have been a part of Team Overdrive because it has changed my life by teaching me valuable skills as well as giving me a confidence that I can carry with me throughout my life.

Suzanna Mathews

My name is indeed Suzanna. I am a seventeen-year-old Christian, and also a homeschooler. This is my first year on Team Overdrive. Through it, I am learning so much, including the fact that WD-40 does not belong in one’s eyes. The people involved have really been a blessing in my life. I LOVE music and classical singing. However, I do enjoy more than just classical music (jazz, classic rock, veggie tales, etc…). I also play bass guitar, greatly appreciate Asian food, leave my hair in a permanent braid, am part of Civil Air Patrol, read Agatha Christie novels, and have two brothers and a dog – all of which are brown. I wish I could legitimately wear a kilt, use only the Gravity Hammer if I can help it, still play hide-and-seek, think Screamo music should be instrumental, and enjoy watching confused faces when I tell people I’m Asian. But ask me of my ethnicity, and I’ll first tell you I’m Dutch. Finally…I have bursts of sociability, then elapse into long, brooding silences, followed by a dire need to use big words and wear PJs.

Mary Boyer

Hi! My name is Mary Boyer and I am 16 years old. I'm currently a Junior in high school and have been homeschooled for my entire education. I prefer homeschooling because it allows me to have a flexible schedule in order to do extracurricular activities. For most of my life, my hobbies have been concentrated in the fine arts. I have been apart of FAITH Center for the Arts for the past 6 years and have performed in many concerts there. I also play a variety of instruments (such as the piano, clarinet, handbells, and most recently the guitar). But besides music, I also enjoy photography, tae kwon do, journalism, and reading. This is my first year as a member of Team Overdrive, and already it has made science and technology all the more interesting. I have no prior experience with a robotics team, so being on this team has provided a fresh new challenge. I am looking forward to a great season!

Joseph Lerchbacker

Hello! My name is Joseph Lerchbacker and I am a high school sophomore. I have been homeschooled my whole life and enjoy it very much. I am new to Team Overdrive and FIRST. This year my primary responsibility is to be "the electronics guy." Some of my interests include computers, music, camping, and swimming. I enjoy hanging out with friends and building/taking apart anything I can get my hands on. I have earned many awards in a scouting program called Royal Rangers, in which I won the title of “Regional Ranger of the Year” (for the North East Region, from Maine to Virgnia). I also participate in a teen service group, a reenacting group called Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship, and I am on a YMCA swim team. I wish to learn more about programming and computers, play more piano rags, collect more gizmos and gadgets, swim faster, and have a great, successful robotics season!

Zeke Ahn

Hello! My name is Ezekiel Ahn (I like to be called Zeke), and I am a high school sophomore. I am 15 years old, South Korean, and I have been home-educated all my life. I decided to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition this year because my older brother Zach, a former member of the team, enjoyed robotics very much. Therefore, I decided to try it out. I also joined to increase my building and teamwork skills. I am active with many extracurricular activities, including Shakespeare Drama, Debate, Piano, Civil Air Patrol (auxiliary of the United States Air Force), and of course Robotics. My interests and pastimes are hanging out with my friends, playing and watching sports (including football, baseball, soccer, and basketball), running, going on the computer, debate, listening to music, technology, the Air Force, playing video games, reading interesting books, and playing the piano/guitar. I have participated in many of the team's previous events, and I love the competition.

Kenny Shotyk

My name is Kenneth Shotyk and I am a home-educated sophomore in high school. I live in Piscataway, NJ and have 3 sisters; 1 older and 2 younger. Besides the robotics team, I am on a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam which I have enjoyed participating in with other members of team overdrive. My favorite past times are hanging with friends, video games, robotics, making stuff, burning stuff breaking stuff, and trying to fix broken stuff . This year will be my second year on a robotics teambut the 2 years prior to team overdrive FRC team I was a junior member on Team Overdrive's FTC. I assist in the children’s ministries at my church and as well as the youth ministries. Three years ago I went on a mission’s trip to the Dominican Republic where I helped build a church, ran a vacation bible school, and visited a children’s hospital. My grandparents were missionaries in Indonesia and my Mom was born there. I would like my occupation to be financial services and landscaping.

Adrianna Scalzo

My name is Adrianna Scalzo, and I am a homeschooled 10th grader. I enjoy reading, playing the piano, and bike riding. I am involved in my church by being a camera operator on the Media Team and helping my Mom teach the 4 & 5 year olds Sunday school class. I attend Missionettes, which is a girls Bible study on Wednesday nights, and I also compete on our churches’ TBQ (Teen Bible Quiz) team. TBQ is an AG program where teens memorize (a) book(s) of the Bible and are quizzed on them at competitions. This year we are quizzing on 1st & 2nd Corinthians. As well as being on Team Overdrive, I am on Teen Technology’s Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam. Our InvenTeam built a Sorghum and Millet thresher for developing countries. I joined Team Overdrive for the excitement of competition, as well as the life skills it will give me.

Kathleen Fritz

Hey, the name's Kathleen. I've been around for fifteen years, and I'm a freshman in high school. My area of expertise is art, and it has been ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Since I'm about 50% Irish, I've been studying Irish Dancing for the past eight years. I've been homeschooled for the same amount of time, and I absolutely love it. Being homeschooled has allowed me to have a lot more freedom, and because of this I've been studying Mandarin Chinese for two years. Someday I hope to learn Japanese as well. At the beginning of the school year I taught myself Autodesk Inventor, and I've been in charge of designing to robot in CAD this season.

Kyndra Moser

Hey, I’m Kyndra Moser. Currently, I am a 14 year old freshman in high school. When I don’t like something, I really don’t like it, and when I love something I really love it. An example would be school. I really don’t like school, but, sadly, all we young people must do it. I love reading. If I don’t have a book for a week straight I get depressed. Seriously, I’m addicted to reading fantasy books. If you know me you can’t deny that somewhat sad fact. I enjoy drawing and writing stories in my spare time. I hope to one day get one of my books published and illustrate it myself. Presently, I am learning how to use Photoshop, and I’m really taking pleasure in it. Photoshop is really a neat program. Also I’m hoping to one day learn HTML and CSS. I decided to take part in robots this year to have fun and feel a sense of accomplishment. Robotics is fun, but it really is straining to be a freshman on a team because no one takes you seriously. But I’ve found my place on the team. I do some of the computer related stuff. Ya get the picture. ¡Adios!

David Mathews

David Mathews is the name of the picture that you see on the left. I am currently a Christian home schooled freshman on a Robotics team, which obviously means I am not normal. I have keen interests in aviation, the military, comfortable pants, science, technology, and the general knowledge of how things work. I love music. I play the violin and the drums, which is sort of a contrast. I am also working on memorizing pi to as many digits as I can. I currently reside in a hectic family that consists of two parents, two siblings, and a dog. To include to the list of my interests, I also enjoy martial arts, Latin, computer programming, biking, video games, and ROBOTICS! I joined robotics because of the last three interests of mine. This is my first year of robotics and from what I have experienced, I am expecting many good things from this experience. GO OVERDRIVE!

Katie Shotyk

Hey, my name is Katie Shotyk, and I am in 9th grade. This is my first year on a robotics team. My current job on the robot team is lathing. I am a 14 year old Christian home schooled girl who likes the outdoors. Gardening is something I enjoy, but not as much as camping or hiking. I am also interested in learning many different things such as carpentry and automotive skills. Currently, I am studying Spanish; but Icelandic, Irish, Ukrainian and German are languages I would like to learn in the future. .Other things I enjoy are cooking, baking, art and music. As for music, I like all types. Math is my favorite subject.

Tom Moser (Head Coach)

This is Tom Moser's Third Year as a First Tech Challenge robotic coach. Last season's experience with Team Overdrive was so Exciting that he couldn't resist returning for another year. To facilitate the team's fundraising, he founded a non-profit 501c organization called Teen Technology operating in New Jersey. Tom has a Bachelor's of Science degree in from the University of Illinois and a PhD from Iowa State University both in Chemical Engineering. Tom is the President of Teen Technology.

Biff Carey (Programming Coach)

Biff is a former mentor for Plainfield, NJ high school FIRST Robotics Team. Last Year he served as a programmer mentor for Team Overdrive. His been extremely helpful in mentoring students in both user and autonomous mode. He is employed as a software designer for the US Army

Howard Scalzo (Strategy Coach)

Howard Scalzo is a Research & Development engineer for Ethicon, which is a division of Johnson & Johnson. He resides in Kenilworth, NJ with his wife Carol and 4 daughters Marissa, Gina, Adrianna, and Cara. He helps his church by teaching the 5th grade Sunday school class, teaching a 7th & 8th grade boys’ Bible study, and helping out with various other activities. He has 20 years experience in research of medical devices and enjoys combining his mind for engineering with his heart for helping people. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and MS in Biomedical Engineering from NJIT. Some of Howard’s favorite pastimes are fishing, hunting with Marissa, getting bargains when shopping, spending time with his family, and mentoring Team Overdrive students. What Howard is most excited about doing during this robotics season is getting students inspired to learn more about engineering.

George Wittel (Engineering Coach)

George is a Mechanical Engineer for Linde LLC a major industrial gas company. He has extensive experience in cryogenic systems, machine design and controls. He has a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT in Newark, NJ. He and his son James have been involved in FIRST from Lego league to FTC and FRC Championships. He has been the Engineering Mentor for Team Overdrive since its inception. “It has been fantastic working with these fine dedicated High School students. They have been true champions on and off the robotics field”. He is married to Theresa and has three children – James, Rachel and Gwen. He is Secretary of Teen Technology and serves on the board.

Jack Lerchbacker (Safety Captain)

Jack Lerchbacker is new to the Team Overdrive Coaching Staff arriving in the fall of 2009. He earned a BSME (mechanical engineering) from the U. S. Naval Academy and served as a nuclear submarine officer. He holds an MBA from Yale University. Jack brings a wealth of science, technology, and engineering management experience to the team. He has been actively mentoring youth for over twelve years serving as Senior Commander of Royal Rangers Outpost 99, as a YMCA Swim Official, and coaching Community Athletics baseball and soccer. Jack and his wife Ellen reside in Clinton Township, NJ with their two sons, John and Joseph.

David Boyer (Electrical Coach)

It was a dark night. The six week term was almost up. Another night without sleep. Another night subsisting on Pop Tarts and pizza. Sometimes I wonder if my mind is still my own.

It all began five months ago. I was eighteen and was beginning my senior year of high school with my whole future in front of me. I was doing what I do best playing the saxophone, singing, playing video games, and taking Taekwondo. I was planning on majoring in engineering. So when I heard about this radical opportunity to join a robotics team, I decided to go for it. Little did I know the chaos to come.

Six weeks of Pop Tarts, wood chips, metal chips, lack of sleep, and copper wire blurred into one prolonged memory. Now as I stand with my term almost up, I have to wonder. What will I do with freedom? Will I eat a meal that isn't artificial? Will I sleep in a bed that I can call my own? Or will I simply stare at a wall and think about nothing. Whatever the case may be, this six weeks has been a roller coaster in my life that I will never forget.

Tyler Moser (Building Coach)

Robots, computers, electronics, and building things have always interested me since I was young. Starting with Legos and trains, I loved exploring and taking things apart to try to figure out how they worked. I developed a love for technology and science, which led to a love of all things mechanical and electronic. This evolved through the years to my interest in FIRST Robotics, where I found a place where I had tools and parts to build a robot that competed in a way that interested me. This is my fourth year with FIRST. Before this year I was on two different FTC teams my Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years. Last year I joined the FRC team 303 from Bridgewater High School and enjoyed learning about the FRC program so much that I persuaded my FTC team to move up to the larger FRC format after our amazing year in FTC in 2007-2008. I have really enjoyed having the bigger challenge offered by the larger bots. Since, my FRC training with 303, I became an active participant on Chief Delphi and also started learning a ton about machine tools which included rebuilding a Bridgeport Mill and a Southbend Lathe for our team’s shop that I helped setup. I also took a welding class at our local community college to be ready for the build season. I am looking forward to an awesome year.

Marissa Scalzo (Strategy Coach)

My name is Marissa Scalzo. I am 18 years old, and a homeschool alumni. I have been a student on Team Overdrive for the past 3 years, including last year when we took the leap up to FRC. It has been a dream of mine to be part of an FRC team ever since I learned about FIRST and FRC, and I am looking forward to mentoring on the team this year. For the past 3 years, I have been the Project Manager for our team, and I plan on helping new students this year appreciate this vital part of making a team work, and to take over the responsibility. In addition to robotics, I am actively involved in our church’s Media Team, in which I help videotape services. I recently graduated from Girls Ministries, formerly known as Missionettes, and earned the highest honor in the program. I also help with the children’s productions. I operate the stage lighting during their practices and performances. I have participated in the adult performances as well. I recently took part in a live nativity at our church with my sisters. Last year, I joined the Somerset County 4-H. I am in a horse club called The King’s Riders, and participated in several competitions last year, including the State Model Horse Show, the State Equine Presentations, the State Equine Arts Show, the State Horse Bowl Competition, the State Hippology & Horse Judging Competition, and the Somerset County 4-H Fair. This year I also joined a Union County 4-H Photography Club. I enjoy horseback riding, photography & videography, archery & hunting, and pretty much anything I can be creative at!

Jonathan Mathews (Coach)

Jonathan Mathews is quite possibly the only person on the team who decided to write his personal blurb in the third person. He is a former Overdrive team member, and is currently an Overdrive team member. The only differences are that this year, he has mentor superpowers, and he is in college, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and minoring in Music. As a mentor, he faces a completely different set of challenges, such as keeping the team on task, teaching them about the electrical system (which he specialized in last season), and figuring out how to come home from school in time for the tournaments. Because the tech competition virus entered his blood at a young age, his hobbies and pursuits have been forever changed. Currently, he enjoys working with/on computers (and playing on them), staying caught up with current affairs in the tech world, and telling the rest of the world exactly how bad Windows Vista really is. He also loves reading, running, skiing, and creeping out all his friends and dormmates. He has high hopes for the future, and is considering either the music industry or military technology as possible career fields.

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