Robotics team from Harding places 8th in US

By robert Guttersohn

rguttersohn@vindy.com

Warren

Warren G. Harding Delphi ELITE Robotics team finished eighth of 100 teams in their division over the weekend at the FIRST World Championship tournament in St. Louis, said Fred Whitacre an adviser for the team.

The team lost in the semifinal round of the playoff Saturday, Whitacre said.

“This was definitely the most successful season we’ve had in our 15-year history,” Whitacre said.

The team won two competitions and finished second in another earlier in the year.

Four hundred teams competed in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology tournament, he said. The teams were split into four divisions.

Before making the playoffs, the FIRST team went 6-2-1 over the nine qualifying matches, Whitacre said.

It was one of 24 teams to make the playoffs, he said.

He said the team, made up of 48 students of which 15 are seniors, constructed their robot in January.

In competition, the robots have to scoop foam balls and throw them in a hoop to score.