Middle School Robotics Teams Punch Tickets to World Championships in Dallas

WHEELING -- Alliances of teams from Ohio and Marshall counties made the finals at the West Virginia State Middle School Robotics Tournament Tuesday, and earned themselves a trip to the world championships in Dallas.

In total, five local teams earned their spots at the world championships during the state tournament at Fairmont State University on Tuesday.

The "Return of Self Destruct" from Moundsville Middle School, aligned with the "Robo-Raiders" from Triadelphia Middle; and "Lil' George" from Sherrard School, partnering with "Steel Vikings" from Warwood School, all made the finals at the state championships.

The teams all won spots in the VEX Robotics World Championships, which is scheduled for May 6-14 in Dallas.

"Lil' George" then won the "Excellence Award," which double-qualified them for the world competition. This freed up a spot and permitted another Sherrard Middle School team, "Killer Frequency," to go to the world championships.

When the local teams competed against each other for the state championship on Tuesday, the "Self Destruct/Robo-Raiders" alliance came out on top, defeating "Lil' George/Steel Vikings" 40 to 9.

The "Self Destruct/Robo-Raiders" alliance dominated throughout the competition, finishing first and second among the 32 teams competing in the qualifying rounds. They agreed to a partnership in the final rounds.

Members of "The Return of Self Destruct" are Juda Jones, Leo Nguyen, Isaiah Toothman and Kingsley Zheng. Those 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.

The "Lil' George Team" won the "Skills Award" during the event, in addition to the "Excellence Award." Members are Zane Gast, Evan Cunningham, Gavin Pickett, Kabe Blake and Joziah Baker. The "Steel Vikings" members are Max O'Connell, Oliver Kovach, and Miles Wharton.

Those on "Killer Frequency" are Kolson Shepard, Blake Oliver, Nathan Spangler, Chase Nolan and Josh Naome.

Teams from Ohio and Marshall counties accounted for 16 teams, or half of the entries in the 32-team tournament.

Six teams at the state competition won seats at the world competition. The sixth team, winning the "Design Award" and qualifying, was "Sci-Botics" from Westwood School in Morgantown.

In addition to being finalists, the Robo-Raiders won the "Build Award," and the "Steel Vikings" 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 last three years -- and to everyone in between -- they are dedicated and diligent workers who persevere every day to hone their skills, skills that will serve them not only in robotics but in their lives," said JoJo Shay, director of innovation for Ohio County Schools. "They are the future of OCS Robotics, and the future is shining bright! We could not be more proud of these students and of our program."

The middle school teams will join four local high school teams in Dallas that also won their way to the Vex Robotics Championship this week. These teams are the "Iron Patriots:X-Ray," "Iron Patriots:Yikes" and "Iron Patriots: Platypus" from Wheeling Park High School, and "George Drinks Water" from John Marshall High School.

In total, nine local teams will be representing West Virginia's Northern Panhandle at the world championships this spring.