WHEELING – Wheeling Park High School will host a local robotics event Saturday just prior to the international robotics event happening at The Highlands later this month.

“High Stakes At the Palace on The Hill” is set to begin with qualification matches at 9 a.m. in the main gymnasium at WPHS and last throughout the day until about 4 p.m.

Admission is free.

A total of 38 teams representing six counties in Northern West Virginia have signed up to participate, according to JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools. The teams will come from Ohio, Marshall and Brooke counties in the Northern Panhandle, as well as Monongalia, Harrison and Marion counties in North Central West Virginia.

Middle school and high school teams will be competing against each other at the WPHS event.

“I have to give a shout out to the Ohio County robotics boosters,” Shay said. “They will be providing lunch for student participants in the hospitality room for volunteers.

“It’s great to have a group of parents supporting us, and we are very appreciative.”

The local event is one of a handful in which local schools will participate prior to the state championships, set for March 17-18 in Fairmont. Top winners at that event will qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championships, happening May 6-14 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.

Another way for a robotics team to qualify for the world championships is to win at a VEX Robotics signature tournament – and one is set to happen in Ohio County this month.

The second annual “Gateway to the West” tournament is scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at The Highlands Sports Complex.

HIgh school and middle school teams compete separately at the signature event, with tournament winners and those selected winners of excellence qualifying for the Vex Robotics World Championships.

There are 80 high school teams and 69 middle school teams signed up to compete, and they will come from 16 different states and “a few provinces from Canada,” according to Shay.

Ohio County Schools hosted its first signature event last year at The Highlands Sports Complex, and the middle school winning team hailed from Canada.

“We are so excited,” Shay said. “This is one of only 10 middle school signature events in the world, and 26 high school events.”

Ohio County Schools also will be hosting some other events this weekend that are open to the public.

– The “A Shot In The PARK” archery tournament will take place Friday evening and all day Saturday at The Highlands Sports Complex.

– The “History of Wheeling” adult education class with teacher Ryan Stanton is set for 10 a.m. in the J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center at WPHS.

– “Tiny Patriots” program for toddlers about to enter schools will happen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio County Public Library. It is open to children ages 0-4 and their families, and is intended as a one-on-one opportunity for the students and family members to get to know Ohio County Schools personnel.