Warsaw Robotics competed Saturday at Zionsville Vex Robotics (High School Only) Toss Up Qualifying Tournament. Warsaw Area Career Center students Grant Monsma and Kara Blair’s robot made it to the semi-final rounds. Also at the competition, Alexi Demopoulos and Nathan Kiphart’s team won the Sportsmanship Award at the competition. The Sportsmanship Award is presented to a team that has earned the respect and admiration of the volunteers and other teams at the event. This team is a model for all to follow because team members interact with everyone in a positive, respectful manner in the spirit of friendly competition and cooperation. This award is judged during the event by teams, referees and volunteers. Key criteria are: 1) Team is courteous, helpful and respectful to everyone at the event, on and off the field. 2) Team treats others on the playing field in the spirit of friendly competition. 3) Team demonstrates respect and willingness to help to event staff and spectators. “It really surprised me when Mrs. Richcreek told us we got an award,” said Demopoulos. He said it was a “normal” day. They had made some adjustments to the robot the night before and it wasn’t working that well. “We were amazed when we finished the day with a 3-3 record,” he continued. “It was actually quite comical. (She) called us while we were at Taco Bell and I was about to order and she asked if we won an award. I said, ‘no.’ She said, ‘Well, you won the sportsmanship award,’” Demopoulos recalled. “I didn’t even know we had an award for that. We were just doing what we normally did, but we really focused on keeping our head high.” Kiphart said, “Alexi and I talked a lot before the competition and we both wanted to try and be a light for others ... so we prayed. Alexi and I tried to focus on being positive. He told me he wanted to be so positive that he would see an empty cup and say, ‘That’s a nice full glass of air!’” He continued, “We tried to be kind and make friends. We knew that our robot had improved over the course of the day and we were proud of that!” Both WACC students agreed they really focused on the positives that day and prayed before all their matches. “Earlier in the year we decided we wanted this to be for God’s glory, not our own recognition. We couldn’t have made it this far without a lot of help from upstairs,” they said. “We are still baffled that we won and we are very humbled by it.” The next competition will be Dec. 6 at Warren Vex Toss Up Qualifying Tournament held at Stonybrook Middle School in Indianapolis. Four Warsaw Robotic teams will compete at that competition.
