Members of the “Iron Patriots: X-Ray” and “Iron Patriots: Yikes” robotics teams from Wheeling Park High School pose together after aligning to win the West Virginia high school robotics state championship on Monday. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING — Three robotics teams from Wheeling Park High School and one from John Marshall High School are on their way to world Championships in Texas this spring.

In total, four high school robotics teams from the Northern Panhandle will comprise the five spots allotted to West Virginia high school teams in the world championships, along with a team from Chesapeake, West Virginia.

First, an alliance of teams “Iron Patriots:X-Ray” and “Iron Patriots:Yikes” won the West Virginia high school robotics championship taking place at Fairmont State College on Monday. The win guaranteed both teams a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championships scheduled for May 6-14 in Dallas.

The alliance of X-Ray and Yikes defeated a third WPHS team in the finals, “Iron Patriots: Platypus,” who finished with a No. 3 ranking. Platypus had partnered with Wasted Energy from Chesapeake High School in Chesapeake, West Virginia.

In addition to the two teams winning the overall state championship, spots at the world championship are also guaranteed to teams winning the Excellence Award, the Skills Award and the Design Award in West Virginia.

But X-Ray then won not just the overall tournament, but also took home both the Skills Champion trophy and the Excellence Award.

Since X-Ray completed a “triple crown” and won all three awards, that freed up spots for two more teams – and permitted Platypus to capture a chance at the world championship, explained JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools.

Members of X-Ray are Wyatt Wheeler, Levi Henry, Alex Zhao, Christopher Alkhouri, Owen King and Anthony Sikole. Those on the Yikes team are Josh Yess, Mya White, Hayden Uhrig, James Maclay and Isaac Garrison. Platypus members are Aiden Milton, Wyatt Rich, Carson Rich and Evan Greenidge.

Members of the “George Drinks Water” robotics team from John Marshall High School celebrate winning the Design Award at the West Virginia high school robotics state championship on Monday and qualifying for the Vex Robotics World Championships. Pictured from left are Sophie Cunningham, Lilly Bergen and Knox Wilson. (Photo Provided)

Also qualifying for the world championships was “George Drinks Water” from John Marshall High School, who won the Design Award at the competition. Members of that team are Knox Wilson, Lilly Bergen and Sophie Cunningham.

The Design Award recognizes an organized and professional approach to the engineering design process, project and time management, and team organization. It also recognizes a team’s ability to document and explain their engineering design process via an engineering notebook and team interview.

“I’m so proud of everything these students have accomplished this season,” Coach Cole Simms said. “The dedication and drive to spend long hours studying, building, coding and testing their robot is amazing. They are some of the best students I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

WPHS sent six teams to the state high school tournament, where a total of 44 teams competed.

“Iron Patriots: Zenith” finished 14th among the 44 teams; “Iron Patriots: K-Otic,” 20th; and “Iron Patriots: Wagyu,” 26th.

John Marshall High School sent four teams to the event. Design Award winner and qualifier “George Drinks Water” finished 19th, “Supergirls,” 21st; “Voltage,” 24th; and “The Hippies,” 25th.

Wheeling Central Catholic High School also sent a team to the event. “CCHS Alphas” finished 10th in the tournament. And the tournament is not yet over, as middle school teams compete today in the state championships for a chance to join their high school counterparts at the world championships in Dallas.

“We are so incredibly proud of our Ohio County Schools robotics program,” Shay said. “The Iron Patriots had a phenomenal turnout at the state competition, and we can’t wait to see our middle school teams in action tomorrow.

“We look forward to seeing West Virginia shine on the world stage.”