Carver Center robotics makes VEX IQ finals on its first try
The Carver Community Center’s competitive robotics team, known as the Carver Robo Dream Team, made an unforgettable debut at the Seventh Annual Caston Cobweb Classic VEX IQ Robotics Competition on October 25. Facing off against 33 other teams, the Carver squad demonstrated that their months of preparation, teamwork, and determination paid off.
By the end of the day, the team placed fourth overall in a field of 34 and advanced to the finals with the top 16 teams; an impressive accomplishment for their first-ever tournament.
Adding to their success, the Carver Robo Dream Team earned the distinguished “Amaze Award.” This award recognizes the team that demonstrates excellence and consistency throughout the competition. Criteria for the honor include strong mechanical design, effective programming, and reliable performance during both driver-controlled and autonomous rounds. The award also takes into account teamwork, professionalism, and the quality of the team’s engineering notebook; all areas in which the Carver team excelled.
Robotics instructor Jeff Marrah praised the group’s achievement.
“This [award] is a results-based award which is very difficult to get,” he said. “We also had the second-highest score against all teams for our Autonomous Skills Challenge software. There were some tense moments where software was being changed on the fly to fix issues, but the kids stayed focused, calm, and pushed through. They did great overall. I’m really proud of them!”
Fellow instructor Tom Kennelly commended the team’s steady development and focus.
“Things are going well,” he noted. “Each week at Carver you can see the immense level of time and patience that goes into building, operating, coding, and collaborating to function properly as a team.”
Parents were equally proud of the group’s effort and composure under pressure. Donette Sandlin, a mother who works closely with the students, reflected, “It’s pretty great for our first tournament.”
Team members Rhett Sandlin, Vivian LeClerc, Cecelia Cramer, and Hayden Gobby represented the Carver Community Center with excellence and maturity beyond their years.
The Carver Robo Dream Team’s debut at the Caston Cobweb Classic was not just a competition. It was a powerful example of what dedication and teamwork can accomplish. Their fourth-place finish and Amaze Award are proof that the future of Carver Robotics is bright and full of promise.