The Highlands Sports Complex was packed once again this past weekend, with the whirring and buzzing of hordes of robots filling the air. The VEX Robotics “Gateway to the West” returned to the facility, bringing dozens of middle school and high school teams from California to Canada and elsewhere to Ohio County to show off their expertise.

Even a massive snowstorm couldn’t keep the tournaments from running. The storm did keep some middle school teams home, but there was a full slate of high school teams going head to head at The Highlands. That not only speaks to the devotion these teams have to their craft, but also to the quality of event that Ohio County Schools puts on.

In just the third year of its existence, Gateway to the West has become one of the top tournaments in this region of the United States, if not the entire country. Gaining that level of respect that quickly is not common. Yet Ohio County Schools put everything they had into making the tournament a fun and memorable experience for everyone.

Local teams made their mark as well. Three teams from Wheeling Park High School made the top 10, while “Iron Patriots: Yikes” became the first local team to reach a VEX signature tournament semifinals. From John Marshall High School, “Hippies” won the sportsmanship award at the end of the tournaments, and team “George Drinks Water” was presented the “Create” award for problem solving and ingenuity.

It was a memorable tournament for both organizers and teams, and we can’t wait to see what next year’s will bring.