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Jersey Shore Robotics Team places 11th in the world

PHOTO PROVIDED From left are members of the Jersey Shore High School Robotics team Rachel Garrett, Victoria Bellomo, Nick Harter, Tallon Anderson, Tony Ramos, Evan Fink, Ryan Stratton and Owen Knepp.

JERSEY SHORE — The Jersey Shore High School Robotics Team is back home, after spending a week at the VEX World’s Championship in Kentucky. The event hosted 580 teams from 29 countries, including China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, England, Syria, Lebanon, Germany, Egypt, Ireland, Spain, and Canada.

The Jersey Shore BullCogs competed in the Engineering Division, and placed 11th out of 97 teams. The competition is broken down into six divisions of approximately 100 teams each. Only the top 16 teams qualified to be in the playoffs, in which they can choose their own alliance partner.

The BullCogs were chosen by the seventh ranked team, making them the seventh seed in the contest. They were stopped from advancing to the finals by a two point loss in the playoff rounds, after their robot was disabled by the opposing team. There was discussion among the judges following the round as to whether that was a disqualifying factor, but they ruled to let it go.

“It was frustrating,” team leader Ryan Stratton admitted, “but we were just thankful to be here, and happy to make the top 16. We didn’t get anywhere close to that last year.”

The competition was ultimately won by the alliance of the Pilons from Ontario, Canada, and Wings of Freedom from Shanghai, China.

“Getting to work and form alliances with teams from other countries is definitely a highlight of this event, and is such a unique and rewarding experience,” instructor Andrew Baker said.

“If there is anything that I am more proud of with these students making it to this level of competition, it is the way that they put aside their differences and bonded into one team to make all of this happen,” Baker added.

The BullCogs consist of seniors Ryan Stratton, Victoria Bellomo and Tony Ramos. Harter accompanied the BullCogs on the trip, as well as members of the school’s second robotics team, –Tallon Anderson, Rachel Garret, Evan Fink, and Owen Knepp. Bellomo summed up how all the students obviously felt. “The experience was exhilarating, the people were life-changing, and I will never forget it,” she said.

The BullCogs will participate in their final competition of the season in June, at the TSA’s (Technology Student Association) National Conference in Atlanta, after capturing first place at the State Tournament in April.

PHOTO PROVIDED
From left are members of the Jersey Shore High School Robotics team Rachel Garrett, Victoria Bellomo, Nick Harter, Tallon Anderson, Tony Ramos, Evan Fink, Ryan Stratton and Owen Knepp.

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