VWHS Robotics Team 12th place in world

Van Wert independent/submitted information

It was a good weekend for the Van Wert High School Robotics Team. The team, which traveled to St. Louis, Mo., to compete in the Robotics World Championships, finished 12th out of 128 teams the first time out in its first attempt.

“First off, we want to thank the community for the outpouring of support shown to Van Wert High School’s Robotics Team this year and especially to the 50-plus parents, friends, and robotics team alumni who made the trip to World Championships this past week,” said Robotics Team Coach Bob Spath. “The atmosphere in St Louis … was electric and each time our team took to the playing field and we were announced, we definitely received the loudest cheers inside the Edwards Dome.”

In addition to parents and supporters, the team also received a surprise visit at World Championships from VWHS Principal Bill Clifton.

The team finished 7-2 during match play on Thursday and Friday, good enough for 12th place, which Spath said was a great finish for a program in only its third year.

“With 3,200-plus teams in the world, to finish the year near the top really demonstrates the accomplishments the team has achieved in just three years of the Robotics Team existence,” Spath noted, adding that one of the more interesting matches at World Championships was when the Van Wert team partnered with a team from Siberia, Russia. Spath said the language barrier was evident when VWHS team captains, Jacob Braun and Andrew Dingle, were trying to communicate to the Russians.

The Russian team members were obviously frustrated with each other and, according to Dingle, the conversation among the Russian team  was very heated during the match.

In the VWHS team’s last match of the day — and of the year — it was partnered with the defending world champions. Spath said the Van Wert team had to do the bulk of the scoring during the match as the defending champion team struggled throughout the match. Van Wert did win this final match, which propelled their alliance partner into first place.

Also during the competition, Spath received the Compass Award, given to the best coach/mentor in the world. A video submission for this award produced by team member Kendal Humrickhouse was exceptionally well done and Coach Spath said he was “near tears” the first time he saw the video.

Spath, who founded the team and coaches it, along with Zane McElroy, was particularly thankful for the seniors on the Robotics Team.

“The four seniors on this team will be greatly missed,” Spath said. “Kendal has worked so hard at making world class videos and has won three awards this season for various videos.”

Spath said, for him, as well as other team members, a lot of great memories were made this robotics season – one he will never forget.

“I am so grateful to the parents, my own family that has sacrificed countless hours and weekends of me being away from home, the community, and especially the other coach, Zane McElroy,” Spath said. “Coach ‘Z’ is an exceptional teacher and coach and I have so enjoyed this year with him.”

Spath also had a list of other people to thank for providing financial assistance to the team, something that allowed the VWHS students to make the trip to St. Louis in the first place.

“I also want to thank Brian Renner of First Federal of Van Wert for donating to the team’s trip to the top of the St Louis Arch,” Spath noted. “We also want to thank Phil Bair from Van Wert Federal for making the trip to St Louis to present the team with funds to take the team out to an ‘end of year’ celebration dinner.”

Spath also thanked Doug Droll at Rocky Top for hosting a welcome home party for team members, and Brian Mercer at Lee’s Ace Hardware and Jeff Welker at Walmart for donating supplies for the team’s much improved pit area at world championships.

Spath also thanked Vantage Superintendent Staci Kaufman and Vantage instructors Ted Verhoff and Dave Young for providing support for both the Project Lead the Way engineering program at Van Wert High School and for providing a van to assist the team in traveling to all competitions this year.

In addition to coaches Spath and McElroy, team members include freshmen Kolton Smith, Jeremy Gunsett, Cade Chiles, Colton Deschner, Tyler Nygren, Spencer Teman, and Carter Eikenbary; sophomores Nick White, Jacob Covey, and Daniel Wray; junior Ryan Rice and seniors Andrew Dingle, Andrew Price, Kendal Humrickhouse, and Jacob Braun.