Sports Coaching and Training System wins Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s 11th District
Rep. Sherrill has named Andy Zhao, a 12th grader at Millburn High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s 11th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of the Sports Coaching and Training System, the student said, “Olympic Sabre Fencing is a dynamic, high-speed sport that poses significant mental challenges. Within this sport, there exist intricate layers of strategy, tactics, and diverse styles that every fencer must master. In this context, the guidance of a coach is invaluable to a fencer’s success. A coach can offer real-time tactical and strategic advice, providing a fencer with a substantial advantage during a bout. However, the presence of a coach is not always guaranteed, leaving fencers to face their opponents alone. I have personally experienced the frustration of competing without a coach by my side, while my opponent enjoyed the advantage of having someone guiding them, revealing my weaknesses, and advising them on how to defeat me. This situation is all too familiar for many fencers participating in tournaments, highlighting a significant challenge within the sport.
Motivated by this common predicament, I set out to address this issue by developing an innovative solution: my app. This application was crafted to empower fencers, enabling them to access valuable insights using their cell phones or iPads, mirroring the guidance they would receive from a professional coach. My goal was to ensure that fencers could receive essential tactical and strategic information, equipping them with the knowledge needed to secure victory during a bout. Moreover, the app goes beyond immediate match outcomes, providing detailed explanations on areas of improvement tailored to each fencer’s unique style. By bridging the gap between coaching and technology, my app aims to enhance the overall experience for fencers, enabling them to continuously refine their skills and compete at their best in every competition.”
This year’s Challenge saw an unprecedented level of participation, with 374 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions, surpassing the previous record of 340. A remarkable 11,334 students from across the United States competed in this year’s Challenge, marking an impressive increase of nearly 1,000 participants compared to the previous record set in 2019. The enthusiasm and creativity these students display is a testament to the growing interest in technology and signal a bright future for American innovation. The surge of ingenuity continued with a whopping 3,645 original applications flooding in, nearly a thousand more than the previous year’s high. This remarkable growth showcases the exceptional talent and innovation within our nation’s youth.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from Omidyar Network, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2024, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.