Four Aylesworth Elementary students will be attending the State Robotics Tournament after their team won two awards at the Portage Township Schools Elementary Robotics Competition.
Students from nine schools across Northwest Indiana brought their “bots” to Crisman Elementary School, where 18 teams competition for a spot in the finals and at least one of five awards on Feb. 10.
The Aylesworth PortaBotz Green Team, which includes members Jaylen Dawson, Austin Nickos, Alynna Martinez and Will White, won the Excellence Award at the tournament and qualified for State. Additionally, the team won the Skills Challenge and earned a spot in the finals. The team is coached by Aylesworth teachers Beth Hufford, Mellissa Miles and Liz McBain.
Seven other Portage teams also competed in the finals, including Aylesworth PortaBotz Pink and Purple, Crisman Callisto and Robot Masters, Jones Indians 1 and 2 and South Haven Techno Team A.
Jones Indians 2 from Portage and Kingsford Heights Robotech Tigers from Union Township earned the Teamwork Award. The Design Award went to the Oak Hill Cardinals from Lowell. The Liberty Tech Tigers from Chesterton earned the Judges Award.
The teams competed on a playing field known this year as “Ringmaster.” Each robot competed in 17 rounds and earned points by moving rings off of pegs, onto pegs and into a goal. Teams could earn additional points by dropping a tray of rings. Each round lasted one minute with two teammates controlling each robot for 30 seconds each.
This was Portage Township Schools’ first time hosting an Elementary Robotics Tournament. Crisman Elementary School principal Scott Hufford organized the event and said Portage is looking forward to hosting more in the future.