‘Gateway to the West’ Crowns Middle School Robotics Champs

TRIADELPHIA - Action at Thursday's "Gateway To The West" robotics tournament left spectators at The Highlands Sports Complex chanting "Holy Cow!"

A team from Ontario, Canada, calling themselves "Holy Cow" partnered with a team from Burlington, Massachusetts, named "Vinsanity" to take home the middle school championship at the tournament. The teams now win an automatic spot at the VEX Robotics World Championships happening this spring in Dallas, Texas.

"Holy Cow" and its ultra-fast robot emblazoned with cow print became a crowd favorite Thursday on its way to victory.

Among local competitors, the team "Buckets" from Bridge Street Middle School took home the sportsmanship award.

Similar competition for high school students from across the nation and Canada begins today and concludes Saturday at The Highlands Sports Complex.

"Gateway to the West" is a signature event of the international VEX VRC Robotics Competition. A total of 74 high school teams and 65 middle school teams from as far away as California, Florida and Ontario signed up to compete in Ohio County for the chance to win the automatic spot at the world championships.

JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools, said the success of the tournament so far gives the school district confidence to apply to host again next year.

"It has gone so well, and that is because we've had such wonderful volunteers who have put in full days," she said.

The planning team for the event included Ohio County Schools employees and the West Virginia Robotics Alliance, and members met bimonthly during 2023.

"So far, it's been amazing," she continued. "We've also received great feedback from parents who have come from out of town, and that is encouraging."

At least one parent paused to take a closer look at the trophies being presented to winners. When told they were crafted by students at Wheeling Park High School, the parent was astounded, according to Shay.

Superintendent Kim Miller noted visitors are coming to her to praise the convenience they experienced during the tournament.

"The arenas are right here. The hotels are right here. The restaurants are right here," she said. "The kids are treated great.

"This was highly organized between JoJo (Shay) and Dr. Nicole Shepherd, and everything was prepared and ready in collaboration with The Highlands Sports Center. So when they walked in, everything just went the way they wanted it."

Another positive is that Ohio County students are being exposed to other robotics students from throughout the country and Canada, "and see what robotics looks like in other places," according to Miller.

"This is certainly going to accelerate our programs locally," she continued.

Those attending the robotics event Thursday couldn't help but notice a strong presence from the U.S. Army in the arena.

Soldiers even had one of the Army's own robots to demonstrate to robotics students who were interested.

It's all part of a new focus for recruiting by the U.S. Army, explained Capt. Francis Nwiah, Bridgeport Company commander for the Richmond Battalion.

"The Army is moving in a different direction," he explained. "Usually, when the public sees an Army man, he is driving a tank and doing logistical stuff.

"But we've got smart kids that are into STEM projects, and the Army also is a branch that thinks about its future."

The Army is going to have a larger display today and tomorrow focusing on the high school students and what technology the Army is going to be implementing in the next five to 10 years," he continued.

"It's an opportunity for the Army to showcase what it has for the high schoolers, because we know we can offer a lot. This is the best moment at an event like this to equip them with the options they have," Nwiah said.