Grace High team engineers big victories at robotics competition
TECH SOLUTIONS—Grace High School’s Robotics Team 986A is recognized by the Simi Valley City Council on May 7. The members are, from left, sophomores Gavin Willis, Jacob Patton, Nickolas Villa and senior team captain Ian Nelson. Courtesy of Cecily Nelson
A robotics team from Grace High School received accolades this week from the Simi Valley City Council for its recent triumphs at the state and global levels.
Team 986A Lancers—featuring senior team captain Ian Nelson and sophomores Jacob Patton, Gavin Willis, and Nickolas Villa—showcased its skills March 16 at the 2024 VEX Robotics World State Championship in Los Angeles.
The squad took home the Design Award, which acknowledges its methodical approach to engineering design, project management and teamwork.
Heidi DiNardo, senior management analyst, commended the team on behalf of the city, noting, “Their meticulous documentation of the robot design process coupled with their effective communication and teamwork left a lasting impression on the judges.”
This win at the state level propelled the team to the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship held in Dallas from April 25 to 27. Eighty teams from 40 nations competed.
This marked the 14th consecutive year that a robotics team from Grace High qualified for the world championship.
Team 986A Lancers emerged victorious in its division, boasting an impressive overall record. It also won the coveted Create Award, recognizing the squad’s innovative engineering solutions to the competition challenges.
“I’ve been told this is the highest award that you can receive,” DiNardo said.
She praised the team for consistently showcasing excellence on a global platform, solidifying its reputation as perennial contenders in the global robotics arena.
Mayor Fred Thomas expressed admiration for the team’s intelligence and remarkable performance.
Ian—the team’s robotics programmer, designer and builder—shed light on the dynamics of VEX competition, likening it to a sport where robots compete to score points.
He attributed the team’s success in the world championship to its thorough engineering documentation. Ian acknowledged certain uncontrollable variables in the competition but emphasized the team’s focus on good engineering practices, integrity and comprehensive documentation.
“We pride ourselves at Grace and I’m really proud of this team,” he said.
Ian, who will attend UCLA next year, will miss competing with Team 986A.
“But I’m hoping (my teammates) will continue the legacy of Grace going forward,” he said.
