Members of the RoboRaiders from Triadelphia Middle School celebrate after winning the “Energy” award at the Vex Robotics World Championship. Pictured from left are coach Jessica Schultz, Sebastien Molina, Katelyn Maloney, Temperance Emmons, Amos Racer, Evan Clatterbuck and Chris Zelek. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING — The energy displayed by a Triadelphia Middle School robotics team at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas this week didn’t go unnoticed by tournament officials.

The RoboRaiders team from Triadelphia took home the “Energy” trophy awarded to the team showing “the most excitement and enthusiasm” throughout the event.

The award is the same one received by Wheeling Park High School’s team Iron Patriots: Xray during the high school part of this week’s competition.

Members of the RoboRaiders team are Katelyn Maloney, Sebastien Molina, Evan Clatterbuck, Chris Zelek, Amos Racer and Temperance Emmons.

“I am so incredibly proud of my team,” said coach Jessica Schultz. “They have worked so hard this entire season.

“All robotics teams can attest to the fact that they will have their ups and downs because they face new challenges. I am proud to see all of the challenges these students overcame. Their hard work and passion is what lead to them winning this award.

It’s the first time Ohio County Schools will go home with awards from both high school and middle school. A robotics team from Triadelphia Middle School also won the “energy” award at the event three years ago.

Middle school competition at the VEX World Robotics Championship finished up Sunday in Dallas, with no local teams making it to the later rounds.

The teams, however, had strong showings, and showed they could compete with top students from throughout the U.S. and the world, their coaches said.

There were 485 teams who competed from a total of 33 countries. The competition divided the teams among six divisions with 80 to 83 teams in each.

The Return of Self Destruct team from Moundsville Middle School, Lil’ George from Sherrard Middle School and Steel Viking from Warwood Middle School all competed against each other in the same “Engineering” division.

Steel Viking ended in the 44th spot among 80 teams in the division. Those on the team are Max O’Connell, Oliver Kovach, and Miles Whorton.

The Return of Self Destruct finished the competition one spot behind them at 45. Teammates included Juda Jones, Leo Nguyen, Isaiah Toothman and Kingsley Zheng.

Lil’ George finished 57th. The team is comprised of Zane Gast, Evan Cunningham, Gavin Pickett, Kabe Blake and Joziah Baker.

Killer Frequency from Sherrard Middle came in at 45 among teams competing in the “Design” division. Those on the team are Kolson Shepard, Blake Oliver, Nathan Spangler, Chase Nolan and Josh Naome.

The RoboRaider team ended with a 59th ranking in the “Opportunity” division.

“While both of our OCS middle school teams were nearly split in wins and losses at this year’s world’s event, they stepped up to the arena and battled for every point to the very end of each match,” said JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools. “To me, perseverance and resilience when under pressure are two of the most valuable skills that a student — or any person really — can learn, and these students exhibited those skills on a world stage.

“We are so proud of their efforts, their reflection about their experiences this week, and their excitement to continue learning and growing.”

Zak Klemm, coach of the teams from Sherrard Middle School, added he was “extremely proud.”

“Both teams held their own on the world stage,” he pointed. “While I am sad they did not make alliance selection, they got to meet and interact with teams from all over the planet. These kids had a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I am tearing up at what an amazing opportunity these kids had. And what I would’ve given to have opportunities like this as a kid. We are amazingly fortunate to have support from our building all the way to the board office,” Klemm said.