DURHAM – The Oyster River Middle School is pleased to share that three teams of students have qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship in May.

Fourteen ORMS teams were among 40 teams who competed in the state tournament on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Manchester Community College. The competition consisted of both teamwork challenges and skills challenges.

Qualifying teams are:

• Roborats: Grade 8 students Steffi Chen, Olivia Kavanagh, and Grade 7 students Yang Kong and Devon Wilson finished with the top competition score.
• One Step Behind: Grade 8 students Ian Couture, Colin Chu, Brayden Alvarez, Sam Nunoo-Quarcoo, and Cavan Wrocklage finished with the second highest competition score.
• Scrapbots: Grade 8 students Devin More, Ryker Andersen, Nicholas Kun, and Jackson Sullivan finished with the fourth highest competition score.

The teams will advance to the 2024 VEX IQ Challenge World Championship, held from May 1-3 in Dallas. 

“A job well done to all our student competitors. Their teamwork and focus on developing their skills resulted in a tremendous result for our teams," Principal Bill Sullivan said.

Six ORMS teams also were recognized by judges for exceptional effort:

• One Step Behind: Ian Couture, Colin Chu, Brayden Alvarez, Sam Nunoo-Quarcoo, and Cavan Wrocklage also received the Amaze Award and Teamwork Champions Award
• Roborats: Steffi Chen, Olivia Kavanagh, Yuan Kong, Devon Wilson received the Excellence Award and Skills Champion Award
• Robodawgs: Parker Ahn, Owen Pierce, Theo Wilson, Cormac O’Neill received the Judges Award
• Deus Ex Machina: Fiona Liu, Diya Sridharan, Rina Han and Olivia Liu received the Design Award
• Howler Monkeys: Yizhou Zhao, Ian Zhou, Tino Leo, Sid Arthanat, and Ryan Keyes received the Create Award
• Scrapbots: Devin More, Ryker Andersen, Nick Kun, and Jackson Sullivan received the Teamwork Champions Award

John Silverio, STEM Teacher and VEX IQ program coordinator, said: "I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our parents and guardians, staff, administration, and community members who supported our robotics teams during the school year. This is another triumphant performance with all three middle school qualifications secured by Oyster River Middle School students. All who joined the club gave commendable efforts and deserve our praise. It's essential, as adults, to guide these young minds in embracing valuable lessons from both victories and setbacks, and the pursuit of continuous growth."

"Our robotics team has always performed strongly in state competition, but this year's achievement was incredible, with ORMS teams having the six highest competition scores and 10 of the top 11 scores," Superintendent James C. Morse, Sr., said. "Best of luck to our teams heading to the Worlds and thank you to thank you to Advisors John Silverio, Jade Terrill, and Jason Duff for sharing their talents and experience."

Roborats -- Yang Kong, Olivia Kavanagh, Devon Wilson, Steffi Chen -- finished with the top competition score. 

One Step Behind -- Grade 8 students Cavan Wrocklage, Ian Couture, Colin Chu, Sam Nunoo-Quarcoo, Brayden Alvarez -- finished with the second highest competition score.

The Scrapbots -- Grade 8 students Devin More, Nicholas Kun, Ryker Andersen, and Jackson Sullivan -- finished with the fourth highest competition score.