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Robotics aces

By James Day

A team of Silverton-area robotics whizzes has come back from a national event in Dallas, Texas, with a second-place trophy.

Local robot makers Noah Stoneking, left, Aiden Adams, John Lashley and Derek Schaefer, show off their trophy and medals after finishing 2nd in their division at an international event in Dallas, Texas.

The four youngsters from the Think Robots Club accumulated 148 points, which held up for most of the competition until the final team surpassed them by 2 points.

Derek Schaefer, 11, of Butte Creek Elementary School, Aiden Adams, 10, of Robert Frost Elementary School, John Lashley, 9, of the Silvies River Charter School, and Noah Stoneking of Sacred Heart School in Gervais, were in Dallas May 10-12 for the VEX Robotics World Championships.

The Think Robotics Club, which is governed by Marion County 4-H, qualified for the international event with its performance at the Oregon state tournament in February in Salem.

The challenge the team faced in the competition was called “Pitching In.” A robot field was set up with balls that the robot had to collect and place into different corral areas to score points. There also was an added bonus to get your robot to hang onto a high or low bar to score more points. All of the actions had to be completed within 60 seconds.

“These guys have really done so well and dealt with so much in the short timespan since state in preparing for worlds and Coach Scott Blake and I are extremely proud of their accomplishments,” said head coach, Gary Morris. The club will take a bit of time off before reforming to do more building and coding in July. New members, both boys and girls from 9 to 18, are welcome to join. Interested parties should contact Morris at [email protected]