Three teams from the Greenville ISD Sixth Grade Center and one team from the Greenville Middle School entered the East Texas VEX Patriot Robotics Challenge this past Saturday. The four GISD robots were among twenty-three entered in the tournament with representation from Greenville, Dallas, Richardson, Galveston, Paris, Mexia and Kemp.

The VEX Gateway competition requires middle and high school students to execute VRC Gateway, a game that is played on a 12’x12’ square field. Two alliances, one “red” and one “blue,” composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play. The object of the game is to obtain a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring barrels and balls in goals, earning bonus points and doubling or negating goals.

The Greenville Middle School Team 2148M included members Hunter Hooten, Hector Pena, Zack Freeman and Chandler Herrington. Team 3148C from the Sixth Grade Center included students Will Adel, Austin Sanders, Aidan Smith, Brianna Evans and Caden Rutz. Sixth Grade Center Team 3148B was composed of Bradley Butcher, Xachary Aguilar, Danielle Mumphrey and Melissa Osornio. Team 3148D from the Sixth Grade Center included members Hannah Mulder, Coleman Avants, Michael Sisto and Eric Miller.

2148M Seeded 5^th and formed the #4 Alliance with teams from Berkner High School in Richardson and team 3148D (Seeded 19^th) from the SGC. Team 2148M led their alliance to the semi-finals.

3148C (Alliance Captain) Seeded 4^th and formed the #3 Alliance with a team from Berkner High School in Richardson and a team from Kemp Junior High in Kemp. Team 3148C led their alliance to the finals and finished as a tournament finalist.

3148B Seeded 13^th and was asked to join the #8 Alliance with teams from Frank Stone Junior High School in Paris and Austin Middle School in Galveston.

Team 3148C from the Sixth Grade Center won the “Amaze Award.” The Amaze Award is presented to a team that has built a competition robot that clearly demonstrates overall quality.

Team 3148D from the Sixth Grade Center won the “Think Award.” The “Think Award” is presented to a team that has successfully utilized autonomous programming modes during competition.

Sixth Grade Center Coach Rebecca Pilkington said of the competition, “Going into the competition, I told some of the sixth grade students to think like a winner and no matter the outcome of the tournament, they would come out a winner with that attitude. That's exactly what they are: winners. Two of the three teams received awards for their hard work.  It's a huge deal for the Cyborgs to be recognized for their accomplishments. I am very proud of them. I can't wait to see what happens next.”