State Champion Manchester Robotics Preparing for Worlds

Monday, April 15, 2024 at 9:55 AM

By Brynn Hamlett

The World Tournament is May 1-3 in Dallas, Texas.

Photo by Brynn Hamlett.

(Manchester, Ind.) - The Manchester Robotics teams competed in the state championship in Indianapolis on March 23rd. The girls team brought home the state championship and both boys and girls teams qualified for the world tournament in Dallas, Texas, on May 1-3 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

The students have been busy planning and preparing for their upcoming trip to Texas. They have been practicing twice weekly, after school. They have also been holding various fundraisers to raise money to offset the cost of the trip. On Friday, April 5th, the school held a pep rally to celebrate the teams’ success.

Coach Scott Sickmeier states, “In the weeks leading up to the world tournament, the robotics’ teams are working through ideas and strategies that they hope will help them keep up with the teams from China, Canada, California, and Texas. The kids are currently working on making some changes to the robot that they hope will help them pick up the purple blocks easier. They will also be working on new driving strategies to improve their scores in skills and alliance drives.” Each team is paired with another team from around the world to drive their robots and score as many blocks as possible in goals within one minute. This requires thoughtful collaboration with their alliance drive teammates.

Members of the team include Kaylee Brewer, Piper Cole, Jozlyn Damico, Brody Doller, Charleigh Fox, Lincoln Graff, Chase Hamlett, Wyatt Heeman, Gabby Hehman, Grayson Merida, Teagan Pfaffl, Landon Stroud.