The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
First robotics tournament takes place
Families cheered on 19 teams from seven middle schools at the first robotics tournament to come to Elyria.
Handcrafted robots and students from middle schools in Northeast Ohio filled Elyria High School’s small gymnasium Feb. 10 at an Elyria Pioneer Classic Vex Middle School Qualifier.
At the first robotics tournament of its kind to come to Elyria, families and fans cheered on 19 teams from seven middle schools who competed at the high school at 601 Middle Ave. in Elyria.
Teams made of girls and boys put their robots of metal, nuts, bolts and wires into a 12’x12’ square ring or field to complete the VEX challenge against other teams.
The name of the challenge all teams participated in was called, “In the Zone.” The object is to attain a higher score than the opposing team by stacking cones on goals or posts, scoring mobile goals in scoring zones, having the highest stack and then parking robots, according to Brian Kokai, director of technology operations at Elyria Schools.
During the matches, two
alliances were made of red and blue teams that consisted of two teams each. Teams competed with 15-second student discussion periods followed by one minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled play.
A program and competition that schools participate in throughout the county, VEX Robotics promotes education and competition while classroom STEM comes alive, according to their website.
Like the In the Zone challenge, Kokai said there are
different challenges developed by VEX every year for student participation.
An Elyria High School robotics program began last year and competed in a different challenge. This year, the district added the middle school robotics program.
Due to robotics becoming a program that is growing, Kokai thought it would be great to introduce the event for middle school students and their families in Elyria, he said. There aren’t as many events held for middle school programs as for the high school level, he said. So staff wanted to stage an event where middle school students can compete with their own peer group, he said.
“It’s great to see parents being interested in it as much as the students are,” Kokai said about attendance at the tournament. “This is good for people who aren’t into any athletics, but are still competitive.”
With VEX Robotics, students learn building, engineering design, coding, resiliency, teamwork and collaboration, he said.
Technology offered in the school system is improving into more modern times, he said. The school system is starting in elementary with camps and workshops so it can build their interests. By the time students make it to high school, his plan is to offer more detailed classes that will prepare young engineers for their future, he said.
“The goal is to get (students) interested in technology as a career or as a next step,” he said. With robotics growing in different schools, the program was developed by the interest of young engineers and help from advisors in the county.
Eighth-grade Brookside Middle School competitors, Kane Besserer and Michael Bilczo said this was their second year of competing in VEX competitions.
“It’s very intense,” Bilczo said. “I love the intensity of robotics. You have to keep the score in your head and the other opponents score in your head to know how much you have to score in each match.”
Bilczo said it’s nice to meet other teams and create friendships. Besserer added he likes meeting people to see who will be a good alliance to their team.
Elyria Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas G. Jama, who was sporting Elyria’s Robotics team uniform, said it’s exciting to have a tournament come to Elyria. He said an event like this is the reason why the new high school was built.
“Doing what (students) love, doing what’s new and doing what’s exciting is what education is going to be all about,” Jama said. “Hands-on, manipulative learning is what’s going to take place.”
The robotics tournament gets the kids excited and that’s what it’s all about, Jama said.