After securing second place at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2019, we knew it was only a matter of time before we would bring home the first-place trophy. With that goal in mind, we entered the 2020 season with hope and determination. It was my senior year, and the team I had raced with in the 2018 cross-country competition had already graduated. Now, it was Travis’s and my turn to lead our team to victory—and we were ready.

Our first task was to rebuild the team. Noah and Jacob were our first new recruits, and their enthusiasm was contagious. Soon, we welcomed even more members: Mo, Cameron, Eliel, Waseem, and Braeden. What started as a team of two quickly grew to ten, and we wasted no time getting to work. Travis took on the role of Captain of Car Build, while I became the Captain of Car Design. We spent countless hours merging theoretical concepts with practical application—a skill that would later shape my career as an operations engineer.

But this club was about more than just competition. The race was simply a means to an end. The real purpose was to develop the technical and problem-solving skills essential in the manufacturing industry. Whether you aspired to be an engineer or a welder, this club provided invaluable cross-disciplinary experience. By January 2020, our initial design was nearly complete. However, on the other side of the world, a viral pandemic was unfolding. By the end of March, the Solar Car Challenge had canceled the 2020 race as COVID-19 reached the United States, and schools transitioned to online learning.

My season was over, but the critical skills I had gained remained with me as I graduated from Wylie East and headed to college out of state. Travis, now a senior, stepped up to lead the team through the 2021 season. Though I was 200 miles away, I followed their journey on GroupMe, cheering them on every step of the way.

Over time, I lost track of the team. My friends had moved on from Wylie East, and this website became a time capsule of my high school experience. But the Wylie East Solar Car Team persevered. Despite a Covid setback in 2023, they finally achieved what Travis and I had set out to do in 2020—winning the 2024 Track Race with a record-breaking 524 laps in four days and taking home all four daily trophies.

Then, a few months ago, I received an email from Matthew Karlsen, the club’s school sponsor, about reviving the website. After updating old code and clearing out digital cobwebs, I am beyond excited to announce the launch of the East Beast eXtreme of 2025! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this incredible journey.