Photo provided Wearing black, members of Iron Patrios-Yikes compete at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas. Pictured are Josh Hess, left, and Hayden Uhrig.

WHEELING – Local robotics students are showing their skills on a Texas-sized stage this week against the best from the U.S. and the world.

Five teams from Ohio County Schools and four from Marshall County Schools, are competing at the VEX World Championship taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Arena in Dallas through Saturday.

Competition in the high school rounds began Wednesday, with three teams from Wheeling Park High School and one from John Marshall High School participating.

The tournament involves about 830 high school teams coming from more than 40 countries. The teams are divided into 10 divisions, with each division having about 83 teams.

The 10 winners representing each of the divisions will compete against each other for the high school world championship tonight.

Qualifying rounds took place on Wednesday, with at least one of the WPHS teams being in a good position to advance to the elimination rounds happening this afternoon. The Iron Patriots-Xray Team from Wheeling Park High School ranked 16th among the 83 teams in their division near the end of the day Wednesday There will be 32 teams going to the elimination round.

Iron Patriots-Yikes was ranked 53rd in their division, and Iron Patriots-Platypus ranked 70th.

The George Drinks Water team from John Marshall was listed at No. 62, with more qualifying matches scheduled.

“The Iron Patriots came to Dallas excited and ready to compete,” said JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools. “Of the 14 students, 12 of them have participated at worlds previously, and it has been thrilling to see them hit the ground running.”

She termed the first day of competition “challenging,” but noted the students worked to make adjustments and will enter day two “ready to go.”

“It is always amazing to see the elevation of skill and competition when teams from all over the world converge,” Shay continued. “To have our teams in that mix is an honor and a privilege that we are grateful for.

“It takes an entire community of people from OCS to parents and community partners who provide support to make this happen for our students. To all of those people, know that they are here making you proud.”

After a high school winner is crowned today, competition starts on Friday in the middle school rounds. There are six divisions in the competition, with about 80 teams in each division. The winner will be crowned on Saturday.

There are three Marshall County middle school teams participating – The Return Of Self Destruct from Moundsville Middle School, and Killer Frequency and Li’l George from Sherrard Middle School.

They are joined by Ohio County teams Robo-Raiders from Triadelphia Middle School, and Steel Vikings from Warwood Middle School.

The Ohio County middle school students touch down today in Dallas, but the Marshall County students actually arrived on Tuesday, said Zak Klemm, coach of the Sherrard Middle School teams.

He and the students were touring an aquarium in Dallas when contacted by phone on Wednesday.

“Marshall County blessed us with two extra days to come early,” Klemm said. “We’ve tried to make it an educational experience. We’re touring the aquarium now, and we’ll be able to have a nice dinner tonight. (Today) we will watch the high school tournament before competing ourselves on Friday.

“We try to provide an educational experience for kids, and have them get out and see a place they have not seen before.”

He noted that Zane Gast, a member of the Lil’ George team, received the honor of being selected as one of 10 participants to represent America in the tournament’s opening parade of countries. Those representing the U.S. in the parade are chosen from among the teams that won the “Excellence Award” in their state, Klemm explained.