The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pioneer Classic Vex tournament grows
A second annual Pioneer Classic Middle School Robotics Tournament brought action Saturday into Elyria High School Performing Arts Center.
Over 40 middle school robotics teams from around the state, including six Elyria teams, competed with robots they made for the latest VEX Robotics challenge: Turning Point.
Family and fans cheered on the teams in the PAC at 600 West Ave. while robots were put to the test in a 12’x12’ battlefield.
Viewing opportunities were also available on Youtube for fans to enjoy.
Brian Kokai, director of technology operations at Elyria Schools, said this year’s challenge consisted of three different objectives.
Turning Point requires a team’s robot to shoot a flag, flip or stack a cap and park on a center platform.
Kokai said it’s a fun game because there is so much variation in what teams can do and in the end they are all battling for the parking platforms.
“It’s like king of the hill, but robot style,” Kokai said.
All 41 teams this year competed to reach the number one seed as tournament champion, with additional awards recognizing team’s hard work, he added.
This is the second year Elyria has hosted a robotics competition for middle school students only.
The middle school program is in its second year, while the high school program is in its third.
Members of the high school’s robotics teams volunteered their time to help with the tournament.
At last year’s first Pioneer Classic, the 2017 VEX challenge “In the Zone,” was held in the high school’s small gymnasium with 19 Ohio teams competing.
Kokai said much has changed between the middle school and high school robotics programs, and bringing the show to the high school’s performance center was more suitable.
“We’re trying to give (teams) a more professional type feel you’d see at a (Vex Robotics event) and show what we can do at our Performing Arts Center,” Kokai said. “We also wanted to give our middle school teams a good experience rather than mixing middle school and high school teams together so they can compete with people in their age group.”
Kokai added bringing different districts and families from around the state to Elyria City Schools has been a goal to fight an urban school perceptions.
“There is more to Elyria and its schools than the bad stereotypes some believe,” he said.
With the newer high school and projects to improve the district, Kokai said opportunities for students have grown and it shows in their robotics program.
He said the numbers have doubled for participation in robotics between Elyria high school and middle school students.
Elyria High School’s robotics team has grown from 12 students in the first year to 50 in its third year, Kokai said.
There were three robotics teams between Elyria’s Northwood, Westwood and Eastern Heights middle schools last year and this year there are now seven teams.
Kokai and staff have said their middle school team has ranked No. 1 in the county, No. 2 in the state and No. 45 in the world.
The high school is ranked No. 32 nationally.
The middle school team also is planning to travel to California to Google headquarters in February, according to Assistant Superintendent Ann Schloss.
Kokai said he believes robotics will continue to grow not only in Elyria, but everywhere.
The district might be interested in hosting a high school competition in the future, he said.