Wellsville robotics team advances to quarterfinals in world event | News

WELLSVILLE — Wellsville High School’s robotics team — “Big Cat Robotics” — advanced to the quarterfinals of the VEX Robotics Competition World Championships in Dallas last month.

The team consisting of seniors Ben Jordan, Ethan Bailey, Cooper Brockway and Sean Driscoll along with junior Lucius Griggs, and coached by Justin Skrzynski, went 7-3 and finished in the top 20 during two days of qualifying matches April 25-26. The three-day event included 800 of the world’s best robotics teams from more than 50 countries.

Advancing to the elimination rounds as the No. 8 seed in their division after forming an alliance with Team 3796F from J.L. Mann High School from South Carolina, the Wellsville team was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

The VRC is the largest and fastest growing middle school and high school robotics program globally with more than 20,000 teams from 50 countries playing in over 1,700 competitions worldwide. Each year, an engineering challenge is presented in the form of a game. Students, with guidance from their teachers and mentors, build innovative robots and compete year-round.

“The dedication and efforts of these kids truly put Wellsville on the map as a contender in the international field of robotics,” said Caitlin Bowen, STEAM and technology coordinator for Wellsville Central School District. “Our teams truly appreciate all of the support that they have received throughout the season from the school district, faculty and staff and the surrounding community.”

She said Wellsville looks to continue its run of success with the introduction of next year’s challenge, “High Stakes.”