zNewsletter Sunday

‘Signature’ Robotics Event Coming to Ohio County

TRIADELPHIA - On the heels of Ohio County Schools' success at the Vex Robotics World Championships, The Highlands Sports Complex will welcome high school and middle school robotics teams from West Virginia and beyond for a regional "signature" robotics tournament in early 2024.

Ohio County has been announced as one of 26 locations throughout the world to host signature events, with 21 of them being in America, explained JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools.

The tournament has been named "Gateway To The West" - a nod to both the region's history and the fact the winner of the robotics tournament wins a spot at the world championships next year, she explained. Beyond Marketing in Wheeling has crafted a logo for the event.

Eighty middle school teams and an additional 80 high school teams are expected to attend the four-day robotics competition, for a total of 160 teams. Most teams will have at least four team members, as well as a coach and chaperones that accompany them.

Shay noted that a requirement for the tournament is that at least half of the teams be from outside West Virginia.

Middle School teams are scheduled to compete on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, with the high school teams showcased Feb. 2-3.

The event not only brings attention to robotics achievement in Ohio County Schools, but it also should result in an economic boost for the local area during the slower winter months.

"When we presented The Highlands Sports Complex as a potential location, they (tournament) organizers were so excited that there were so many hotels there and places to eat," Shay said. "It was an easy sell that we had facilities to accomplish the task."

Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton - also president of the Ohio County Development Authority that oversees The Highlands Sports Complex - believes those attending will be pleased with their experience at The Highlands.

"This is exactly what The Highlands Sports Complex was built for," he said. "This is a little diversification from sports, but these people will be staying in hotels, shopping and eating at The Highlands. That is what we were trying to accomplish."

Wharton expects it to be a tremendous event.

"There will be so many people at The Highlands," he said. "The offshoot to all the other businesses is going to be very good.

"It's one of those things you don't plan for, but it happens," Wharton added. "People want to use that space. I'm sure there will be many such unique and interesting events scheduled there in the future."

The purpose of signature events is to allow students who may never qualify for the Vex Robotics World Championship the experience of competing in a large-scale tournament.

While the world championship consists of 1,280 teams between high school and middle school competitors, the signature event has 160 but is still larger than local tournaments - which usually have 24-30 teams, according to Shay.

"It gives the students a chance to see the larger picture, and compete against other teams from outside their region," she explained.

Shay said Ohio County Schools began the process of applying to host a signature event late last year. She and Wheeling Park High School robotics coach Luke Shepherd began by first traveling to a signature tournament in Michigan to see if such an event would be feasible in Ohio County.

They next began the two-phase application process, with phase 1 being submitted in January and phase 2 in March. Ohio County was selected as a signature event site, but it wasn't officially announced until last weekend's Vex World Robotics Championship in Dallas.

"For us to be awarded on our first attempt is an accomplishment for us," Shay said. "It was amazing for us to get one for Wheeling."

Most of the money needed for organizing the tournament comes in through registration fees paid by participating teams, she continued. The registration fee is $250 for each of the participating teams, with 18 teams from Ohio County not being charged.

The money generated by the 142 teams paying will be $35,500, but Shay said about another $30,000 will be needed. This will help provide "scholarships" to teams wanting to attend and give their students the experience, but who would otherwise not be able to come.

Local governments, businesses and sponsors will be approached for the money. These are the same donors who helped make teams from Ohio County Schools recent trip to Dallas possible, she said.

Teams from Ohio County were fortunate enough to capture nine of the 14 spots available in the West Virginia region for the world championships. Nearly 40 students and their coaches and chaperones attended, and Shay estimates the cost of the trip at $60,000.

In the end, the Wheeling Park High School's Iron Patriots Mark 1 team advanced from the qualifying rounds to the elimination rounds at the world championship, while the Roboraiders from Triadelphia Middle School team made it to the quarterfinals. It was the first time an Ohio County High School team reached the elimination rounds and the first time a county middle school team made the quarterfinals.

The Robosapiens team, also from Triadelphia Middle, received the "Energy Award" for their display of spirit at the event.