Jonathon Budau, Superior Heights Collegiate physics teacher and coordinator for the competition robotics program in Algoma, reviewed how Sault and area students performed at the recent World VEX Robotics Championships at Tuesday’s Algoma District School Board (ADSB) meeting.
"Our local program has just exploded since adopting the VEX competition program at the high school and elementary school levels,” Budau told SooToday.
“It is a very exciting program, where students are encouraged to be innovative and creative and develop engineering skills in a highly competitive and cooperative environment. That we are able to qualify and perform well at the World level shows that we have the ability and support locally, to be competitive and respected world-wide."
The World VEX Robotics Championships, which were held in Louisville, Kentucky, saw two ADSB teams compete in separate divisions.
In the VEX high school division, the Lone Wolf team, consisting of three Korah students, had the highest placing ever for an ADSB team at the World level.
Lone Wolf finished ninth in their 94-team division, with an 8-2 record in qualifying matches.
Lone Wolf was eventually defeated in the semi finals by the Sparks, a Toronto team.
Nevertheless, Lone Wolf ended the competition in 19th place out of 564 high school teams.
At the elementary school level, our area was represented by brothers Hunter and Chase Martel, two boys from the Missarenda Consolidated school in Missanabie, 90 minutes northeast of Wawa.
In competition, the two boys, a rookie team, posted admirable results, finishing 55th out of 68 teams in their division, but did not advance to the playoffs, which hosted the top 40 teams out of 256 elementary school teams who earned the invitation to the event.
“This wrapped up a very successful season, where the Algoma district earned the distinction of having the highest participation rates and school representation of any school district in North America,” Budau said.
The new robotics season begins this week, and new teams or returning teams can contact Budau at [email protected] or the public can follow the league efforts on Facebook under ADSBVexRobotics