574G team member Harry Doss works on his driver skills run at Crown Point Saturday. (Photo provided)

CROWN POINT — Crown Point turned out to be an interstate battle with teams from Illinois, Michigan and Indiana being represented. “This was a good example of the level of competition we will see at worlds,” said Wawasee head coach Jed Wandland.

Wawasee’s Iron Pride Robotics team took the skills championship at the Crown Point Fieldhouse Saturday, Feb. 15, increasing the season trophy count to 17.

“Skills scores will be the way most of Wawasee’s teams will qualify for state now,” said Wandland. “Our last tourney, this Saturday, will be the last time teams will be able to qualify through a tournament championship.”

In competition, it was a hard-fought day at Crown Point Saturday. 574B (3-3-0, rank 28), 574H (2-4-0, rank 43), 574A (2-4-0, rank 48) and 574G (2-4-0, rank 52) competed well in the qualification rounds.

The 574F (4-2-0, rank 16) alliance lost to the 574C (6-0-0, rank five) alliance in the round of 16. 574D (6-0-0, rank three) alliance powered through to the semifinals. 574C alliance’s bid for the championship ended with a loss by two cubes.

574C put up a skills championship best-combined skills score of 147, elevating their world skills rank to 16th place out of 25,000 teams around the globe.

Tourney results:

574D — third (6-0-0), fourth (80 points) robot skills

574C — fifth (6-0-0), first (147 points) robot skills

574F — 16th (4-2-0), 29th (16) robot skills

574B — 28th (3-3-0), 51st (2) robot skills

574H (middle school) — 43rd (2-4-0), 50th (2) robot skills

574A — 48th (2-4-0), 46th (3) robot skills

574G — 52nd (2-4-0), 47th (3) robot skills

Highlights:

574C — team best-combined skills score 147, second in state

574H — ninth in state skills score

The next tournament is at home Saturday, Feb. 22, at Wawasee High School Hardwood Teepee, 12659 N. Syracuse-Webster Road, Syracuse. Qualification starts at 9:30 a.m., finals at 3 p.m., awards and closing ceremonies to follow.