Wheeling Park High School Iron Patriots Mark 1 members Christopher Alkhouri, left, Will Fuller, and Ethan Matz partner with Triadelphia Middle School Robo-Raiders team members Nick Franke, Carson Rich, and Sebastian Molina at a recent Vex Robotics event. (Photo provided)

TRIADELPHIA — About 1,000 robotics students with their coaches and chaperones are expected to roll into The Highlands Sports Complex next month for a regional tournament that could land them at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas next spring.

Preparations are happening now for the “Gateway To The West” regional tournament in Ohio County, selected by VEX Robotics as a site for one of 26 “signature events” where competitors may qualify for the world championships. There are 21 similar regional events happening throughout the U.S., with the other five scheduled for other countries.

Middle school teams are scheduled to compete on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at The Highlands Sports Complex, with the high school teams showcased Feb. 2-3.

Eighty middle school teams and an additional 80 high school teams are expected to attend the four-day robotics competition, for a total of 160 teams, explained JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools. Most teams will have at least four team members, as well as a coach and chaperones that accompany them.

That means about 1,000 or more people are expected at The Highlands and Ohio County for the tournament.

Shay reports so far 79 high school robotics teams are entered for the 80 spots available in the tournament, and that 60 of the 80 middle school spots have been filled.

Registrations will be accepted until the day of the event or until all spots are filled, she said.

Teams already signed up for the competition are coming from 15 different states, as well as Canada, according to Shay. There will be the Ohio County teams, as well as others from Marshall County, Morgantown, Ravenswood and Charleston in West Virginia.

There are also teams entered from the Pittsburgh and Akron areas, she said.

“It’s a nice number,” she said. “We’re very excited.”

Meanwhile, work is right now happening behind the scenes to prepare the signage and organization pieces needed for the tournament, according to Shay. Main sponsors have been secured to pay for these items.

“There are registration fees the teams pay, but we also want to make sure we put on a good event,” Shay said.

Main sponsors include the West Virginia Department of Education, as well as two contractors active with Ohio County Schools during recent property improvement projects — M&G Architects and Siemens.

“We’re excited they are willing to support our program and our students,” Shay said.

She said about 40 volunteers will be needed to help with the tournament. Mostly, they will be charged with collecting from competitors the notebooks on their projects they are required to submit as part of the competition, she explained.

The West Virginia Robotics Alliance, meanwhile, will serve as referees and judges overseeing the tournament.

Shay and county officials recently met with representatives of the alliance to tour The Highlands Sports Complex in preparation for the tournament.

“They were amazed,” Shay said. “The facility has everything to cover whatever needs they might have.”

The last two years have seen Ohio County robotics teams win the West Virginia robotics championship and automatically qualify for the world championships.

Boosters next came forward to raise the money needed to send them to Texas.

“The community has supported this program over the years,” Shay continued. “Now we’re excited to have this event to allow students who don’t get to go to worlds experience a signature event. This will also bring people to the area and help us celebrate the area. It’s a way to give back for all the support we’ve received.”