At the VEX World Qualifier Saturday at Warren Central, three of Warsaw Area Career Center’s four teams placed well enough to move on to quarter finals.
However, according to robotics teacher Abbi Richcreek, in the first round of the quarter finals all the teams did not place high enough to move on.
“Having three of four teams make it to quarter finals was a success in itself,” Richcreek said. “Their competition improved from the Zionsville (World Qualifier), which was Nov. 12. We have three more tournaments to compete in to hopefully qualify for VEX World Competition held in early spring. Only 17 teams from Indiana may go.”
The World Competition is in Anaheim, Calif., April 18-21.
For the Qualifier Saturday, Richcreek said, the WACC took four teams and each team competed five times randomly against other teams. Each team was partnered with an alliance.
There were a total of 73 rounds for the 61 teams at the qualifier. Richcreek said the WACC teams placed ninth, 19th, 20th and 29th out of the 61 teams. The first three WACC teams were allowed to move on to the quarter finals.
“I think that our robot did pretty well, but it seemed like a lot of the robots there were fast like ours,” said freshman Grant Monsma.
For the next qualifier, Monsma said they need to make their robot faster. He said they will mess with the gear ratio by increasing it from 7 to 5, to 7 to 3.
Junior Andrew Cox said Saturday’s competition was a “big improvement from last time. I think we did really well. We were able to contribute and score points on every round.”
“We had a small couple of mechanical issues we didn’t foresee that we need to fix,” Cox said.
In his first year in robotics, freshman Nathan Kiphart said, “It’s pretty good. We have a great competition system and a lot of great people to hang out with and learn from.”
Ian Smith, sophomore, said his team was going to get their robot ready for the next qualifier by working on its “brain.” The wheel and axles also need improved.
“We hope to do better than ninth,” Smith said.
Sophomore Morgan Lackey thanked Zimmer and Tornier for their contributions to the team.
As one of the few girls on the team, Lackey said she thought more girls didn’t participate because “girls don’t want to be an engineer, but that’s because they don’t understand how fun it is.”
Lackey said a student doesn’t have to want to be an engineer to join the robotics club, they just have to want to work with their hands.
During the competition, sophomore James Wynn acted as a coach. His job was to direct the driver.
“It’s not that difficult if you know the rules,” Wynn said.
He learned from example, by watching other teams.
The WACC teams will compete next Dec. 17 at Jay County High School.
