The Greenville ISD VEX robotics’ teams from the Sixth Grade Center and Middle School competed in the VEX Tournament in Austin, Texas this past Saturday. Robot-bearing students from VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) team 2148E (Brittani Gilstrap, William Powell and Brie Wiker) secured the Tournament Finalist Award and second place. Greenville ISD students competed against 51 high school and middle school teams from the Austin, Houston, Galveston, Dallas and Greenville areas. The VEX tournament required players to compete in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play. The object of the game was to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring barrels and balls in goals, earning bonus points and doubling or negating goals.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals were Team 2148M (Armand Dial, Hunter Hooten and Hector Pineda) and Team 3148C (Will Adel, Kaylea Evans, Austin Sanders and Aidan Smith.)

Greenville Middle School Coach Bill Shiflet noted that the Austin competition was the most successful to date saying, “ Sometimes our greatest victories don’t come with a trophy. These kids are learning so much and maturing so quickly. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of our students.”

Sixth Grade Center Coach Rebecca Pilkington added, “The Cyborgs always amaze me with their talent. They are usually in the top ten during qualifications. They have a lot of courage in that they don’t let the High School teams get in their way of playing with their heart. My 6^th grade students adapt quickly to every challenge that is placed before them. I am very proud of their progress.”

The second place title and overall success in the Austin tournament comes just weeks after both Sixth Grade Center and Middle School teams secured Tournament Champion titles at the Houston Starter Vex Competition. As tournament champions these teams qualified for the chance to compete in the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship in April against top teams from over 20 countries worldwide.

Other Sixth Grade Center team members in attendance; Xachary Aguilar, Coleman Avants, Bradley Butcher, Breanna Evans, Corey Hargraves, Ethan King, Raymond McClure, Eric Miller, Hannah Mulder, Danielle Mumphrey, Melissa Osornio, Edgar Ramirez, Nick Ruprecht, and Michael Sisto

Other Greenville Middle School members in attendance: Brian Adams, Kaden Denuyl, Kolton Evans, Zack Freeman, Thomas Gore, Channing Hemingway, Chandler Herrington, Jacob Hunnicutt, Holdyn Mason, Austin Roderick, Myra Ruiz and Haley Schmock

Robowrangler members in attendance: Kari Porter, Kaci Porter and Camden Dewbery

District Robotics Facilitator & Instructor: Johnny Tharp