This past weekend, the Van Wert High School Robotics team competed in the big robot division at the Buckeye Regional FRC competition in Cleveland, OH with 59 teams from Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. The Van Wert team won the prestigious top award, the Engineering Inspiration Award which “celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school or organization and community.” This award advanced the Van Wert team to the World Championships in Houston, TX where 30+ countries and 400 FRC robotics teams will compete.
“Our students have had to overcome a lot over these past two years and to say we are proud of them is an understatement,” said VWHS Robotics coach Zane McElroy. “In 2020, we were ready to go to our first FRC competition and the nation was shut down two weeks before we left. In addition, their State championship for their smaller robots (FTC) was canceled and then their 2020-2021 season went 100% remote. This season, we had hopes of a normal/in-person season with our smaller robots only to have it go remote and our competitions turned into in-person scrimmages. Our students never let this get to them and worked tirelessly at competing in scrimmages while remotely qualifying for state and building their larger robot for their in-person FRC tournament. They put in countless hours to get themselves ready for our FRC tournament and countless hours these past three days in Cleveland. It takes all of our members split into our scout team, public relations team, pit crew, and drive team to make this a success, and to say they all rocked it is an understatement. We are very proud of them and beyond blessed to be able to compete one more time with them at the world championships in Houston, TX April 20-23. In addition, thanks to all of our sponsors, parents, community, Vantage Career Center, and Van Wert City Schools for all of your support because without you this would all not be possible. The Van Wert HS Robotics Team is thankful for the donations from all their sponsors including Van Wert County Foundation, NASA, Central Insurance, Alliance Automation, Van Wert Federal, 1st Federal of Van Wert, StateWide Ford Lincoln, Citizens National Bank, Tenneco, Walmart, Vancrest, Honda, UNOH, Advanced Biological Marketing, and Danfoss.”
