Photo by Derek Redd A match between the alliance of Crossfire from Bridge Street Middle School and Lunar Forge of Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania and the alliance of Blue Army of Rancho Cucamonga, California and Refract of Manassas, Virginia takes center stage at the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament at The Highlands Sports Complex.

Photo by Derek Redd The competition area was full Wednesday on the first day of the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West Tournament at The Highlands Sports Complex.

Photo by Derek Redd Pictured are the trophies awarded to the winners of the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament, which were created by Eagle Precision at Wheeling Park High School.

Photo by Derek Redd From left, Oliver Dann and Prithvi Prasain of Warwood Middle School's Green Arrow team run their robot through the skills competition Wednesday.

Photo by Derek Redd Charlie Contraguerro works on his robot as part of the Sea Monkeys team from St. Michael Parish School on Wednesday.

Photo by Derek Redd Raymond Huang of the team Exploding Eggs from Bayside, New York, puts some finishing touches on his team's robot Wednesday.

Photo by Derek Redd Members of the Skylight team from Rockville, Maryland, work in the practice area at the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament.

Photo by Derek Redd Emory Maunz works on her robot as part of the Potato Scientists team from St. Michael Parish School on Wednesday.

Photo by Derek Redd From left, Moundsville Middle School students Annika Meade, Grace Berisford and Sophya Piatt compete as the team of Tiny Screw at the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament.

Photo by Derek Redd Middle school students compete Wednesday in the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament at The Highlands Sports Complex.