The “Robo Riders” alliance from Triadelphia Middle School and the “Self-Destruction Return” team from the left-handed Moundville Middle will face the Warwood Middle “Lil George” and “Steel Vikings” alliance in the final of the West Virginia Middle School Robot Championships on Tuesday. (Photo provided)
Wheeling – The Ohio and Marshall County team partnership held the final at the West Virginia Middle School robot tournament on Tuesday, competing in the World Championships in Dallas.
In total, five local teams won spots at the World Championships at the state tournament held at Fairmont State University on Tuesday.
“The Self-Destructive Return” from Moundville Middle School was alongside Triadelphia Middle’s “RoboRyers.” Sherrard School’s “Lil George” is partnering with Warwood School’s “Steel Viking” and all of them finished in the State Championship finals.
All teams won the VEX Robotics World Championships spot scheduled for May 6-14 in Dallas.
“Lil George” won the “Excellence Award” and was double qualified for the World Championship. This freed the spot and allowed another Sherrard Middle School team, “Killer Frequency,” to go to the World Championships.
The “Self-Destruction/Robo Lyers” alliance came to the top, beating the “Lil George/Steel Viking” 40-9 when local teams competed against each other for the state championship on Tuesday.
The Self Destruct/Robo-Raiders alliance dominated the overall competition, finishing first and second out of 32 teams competing in the qualifying round. They agreed to a partnership in the final round.
The members of “Resurrection of Self-Destruction” are Judas Jones, Leo Nuguen, Isaiah’s Tooth, and Kingsley Zheng. The people on the “Robo-Raiders” team are Katelyn Maloney, Sebastian Molina, Evan Clatterbuck, Chris Zelek, Amos Racer and Temperance Emmons. The “Robo-Raiders” team also won the state championship in 2023.
In addition to the “Excellence Award,” the “Lil George Team” received the “Skill Award” during the event. The members are Zane Gast, Evan Cunningham, Gavin Pickett, Kabe Blake and Joziah Baker. The members of “Steel Viking” are Max O’Connell, Oliver Kobach and Miles Wharton.
In the “killer frequency” are Colson Shepherd, Blake Oliver, Nathan Spangler, Chase Norun and Joshna Ohm.
Teams from Ohio and Marshall County accounted for half of the entries in the 16- or 32-team tournament.
Six teams from the state tournament won seats at the World Championships. The sixth team to win the “Design Award” and qualifying was “Physical Combotic” at Westwood School in Morgantown.
In addition to being a finalist, the Robo Riders won the “Build Award” and the Steel Viking took home the “Amaze Award.”
“From the large group of sixth graders who joined us this year, to the incredible group of eighth graders who have grown so much over the past three years, and all in between, they are dedicated and hardworking workers every day. “They are the future of OCS robotics, and the future shines brightly! We couldn’t be more proud of these students and our programs.”
The middle school team will also join four local high school teams in Dallas, winning the road to the VEX Robot Championship this week. These teams are “Iron Patriots: X-Rays,” “Iron Patriots: Yikes,” “Iron Patriots: Yikes: Platypus,” and “George Drinks Water” from John Marshall High School.
In total, nine local teams will represent the Northern West Virginia Panhandle at the World Championships this spring.
