Schools in the Northern Panhandle have quickly become tops in West Virginia in the field of robotics.

Teams from both Ohio and Marshall counties excelled at the recent VEX Robotics West Virginia High School and Middle School State Championships held in Fairmont. Four high school teams from the two counties ­–three from Wheeling Park High School and one from John Marshall High School ­­–qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championships scheduled for April 21-30 at the America’s Center Convention Center in St. Louis. At the middle school level, five teams from Sherrard Middle School alone, plus a Moundsville Middle School team, will go to the world championships in St. Louis.

Among the high schools, Wheeling Park High Iron Patriots teams X-Ray, Yikes and K-Otic have advanced, along with John Marshall High School’s George Drinks Water.

In the middle school category, Sherrard’s Rubber Duckies, Lil’ George, Clankers, Cinnamon Toast Crunchies and Loose Screws are headed to worlds, along with Moundsville Middle’s Costco Hot Dogs. That means the vast majority of West Virginia’s delegation to the world championships will come from Ohio and Marshall counties. Ten of the 13 worlds spots have been secured from schools in those two counties.

Robotics is still a young competition among local middle and high schools, yet Ohio and Marshall county schools have wasted very little time in rising to the top. It’s a field that will help all of these students as they grow into adulthood. Robotics fortifies them in subjects like math, engineering and other important areas.

It is good to see the lessons learned in Ohio and Marshall county classrooms have been able to transfer over to a competitive field. Good luck to all of the world championship qualifiers. You’ll make the Northern Panhandle proud. Actually, you already have.