Comox Valley Schools recently hosted the second VEX V5 competitive robotics tournament of the season at Highland Secondary, where 18 teams from Victoria, Salt  Spring Island, Port Alberni and the Comox Valley competed for trophies and bragging rights over this year鈥檚 鈥淗igh Stakes鈥� robotics challenge. 

Winning the Top Excellence Award was Robotics71鈥檚 team 7842-F, composed of Benoit  Vaillant, Zane Radawiec and Laurian Blachford, for achieving the best overall robot design and winning performance in the competition arena. 

Winning the first place Tournament Champions Award was Robotics71 team 7842-Z, including members Mikayla Roddam, Connor Gallagher, Ira Turner, Sebastian Graham and Liam Bugslag, which they shared with their strategic alliance partner 1022-R from Claremont  Secondary. Team-Z also won the Innovate Award for their imaginatively novel approach to  robotics design. 

Alliance teams 7842-F and 7842-S consisting of members Josh Moller, Brandon McDonnell,  Caelan MacKenzie and Mika Doehre brought home second-place tournament finalist trophies. Team-S also won the Build Award, for the best attention to detail in designing a robot that will  best stand up to the rigors of competition. 

Special thanks to the many sponsors, teachers, parents/guardians and volunteers from throughout the island who make this exceptionally rewarding STEM learning experience possible for these students. Many former Robotics71 students have gone on to compete at the World Championships, have won top scholarships and now lead successful careers in the tech sector. 

Coming up Feb. 7- 9, three Robotic71 teams will be competing at the National 鈥淢echa Mayhem鈥� signature event being held at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. If you happen to see them around the valley at one of their fund-raising events, stop and have a chat with these inspirational roboteers and check out some of their brilliant autonomous creations.