On Saturday, February 6th, over 300 cheering fans watched as 195 young engineers went head-to-head in the OPEF 2016 Battle of the Bots, the largest middle-school VEX Robotics tournament in Illinois. This year’s tournament, presented by Informitics LLC, included teams from Berwyn, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Naperville and Oak Park. The students competed against each other in a 12-by-12-foot arena by driving robots they designed, built and programmed to play this year’s VEX Robotics challenge game, Nothing But Net. With two alliances tied in the final rounds, the tournament alliance champion was finally determined in a nail-biting final two-minute sudden-death playoff match!
We were very honored to have Senator Kimberly A. Lightford join us to present the trophies and congratulate these young engineers. Three OPEF VEX Robotics teams qualified for the Illinois VEX Middle School Robotics State Championship:
- A record 4 trophies including the Excellence Award went to Brooks Team 7183E Hydra Revolution. Team members are Takuma Kawamura, Danny Lingen, Emily Maldonado, Caden Scheuring and Rachel Taylor.
- Tournament Champion Award went to Julian Team 7480G G-Men. Team members are Callum Dickel, Andrew Kitzman, Nate Singer, Emmet Szewczyk, Charles Tijerina-Albury and Matt Wunsch.
- Design Award went to Julian 7480M Might Little Pinkies. Team members are Dylan Carson, Will Crosby, Devin Hayes, Hugh Lipic, Danny Ramos, Eleanor Ruszczyk and Kai Yokoo.
These teams will head to the State Championship on March 5th in Batavia to compete against middle-school teams from throughout the state.
Thanks to our many, many volunteers who helped make this event a success! We also are grateful for the generous financial support provided by Informitics, as well as Aria Group Architects, Strategic Hotels and Resorts, and Forest Park National Bank and Trust Co.
Check out the article in the Oak Leaves here.
Check out more wonderful photos of the event, courtesy of Paul Goyette.