Immanuel Lutheran School hosted elementary and middle school VEX IQ tournaments Nov. 16.
With 36 middle school robotics teams competing, Brownstown Central Middle School’s Brave Botics Team 98098C of Cody Burnside, Dustin Brewer and Alli Dillard finished the teamwork challenge competition in first place as part of an alliance with Team 11914S from Fairland.
The victory earned both teams a spot to compete in the Indiana VEX Robotics State Championship on March 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Additionally, BCMS Team 98098C finished first in the skills competition by earning 40 points in autonomous programming and 61 points in driver skills for a combined skill total of 101 points.
Two other BCMS teams also competed in the tournament. Both ranked in the top 16 to qualify for the finals competition. In collaboration with their alliances, Team 98098A members Mason Short and Quincy Weddell finished in third place, and Team 98098E members Brynn Burton and Joanna Pitts finished in seventh place.
In the 45-team elementary division, the tournament champions were Team 520E from Immanuel with team members Brody Keith and Dane Gillaspy in partnership with Team 12109B from Petersburg Elementary School.
The 2019-20 Brave Botics program has 15 students making up a total of six different teams. During the season, the teams will be competing in Jackson County league competition sponsored by Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. and hosted by Trinity Lutheran High School as well as three official VEX IQ tournaments scheduled December through February.
Karen Ault coaches BCMS, and Dallas Goecker coaches Immanuel.