Wawasee High School To Host Robotics Competition
SYRACUSE — The robotics program is being expanded throughout the Wawasee Community School Corp. at different grade levels. As one indicator the program is growing, Wawasee High School, for the first time, will host a robotics competition Saturday, Nov. 7.
Opening ceremonies begin at 9:15 a.m. in the main gym of the high school in Syracuse. Qualifying matches begin at 9:30 a.m. and the awards and closing ceremonies begin at 3:30 p.m.
“Essentially what will happen on the 7th is that we will have about 22-25 teams from different schools across the state competing in this game,” said WHS teacher Jed Wandland, who leads the school’s Robotics Club and also teaches robotics, as well as physics. “They will play eight matches in the morning to determine their rank. After that the top eight teams will pick among the remaining teams to be part of an alliance for an elimination bracket.
“The alliances will then compete in best of three matches during the bracket. The winning alliance will then go on to the state championship.”
While all of this is going on, two skills challenges will be run on the side. Teams get one minute to score as much as they can. They may drive their robot for the one minute or it can operate on its own depending on the challenge.
These scores will go on the leader board for the state and for the world. Top teams at the end of the season on the leader boards will qualify for the state and-or world championships.
An excellence award will also be given to the top overall team during the competition based on tournament standings, skills challenges and judging. The winner of this award will also go on to the state championship.
The state championship will be held March 5 in Indianapolis.
For more information, call WHS at (574) 457-3147.