A group of Sarasota middle school students are set to pit their robotics skills against the world at the VEX Robotics World Championship in April.
- Brookside Middle School's VEX Robotics team has won local, state competitions
- VEX Robotics World Championship April 19-25 will feature 1,200 teams
- Brookside's team one of four representing Florida
The five students that make up the VEX Robotics team at Sarasota's Brookside Middle School know the meaning of teamwork. Whether they are screwing pieces into place or programming the latest version of their robot, the process takes time and patience.
"It's fun and it could be a great help for the future, for getting into schools, colleges, careers," said 7th grader Armand Segui.
"I actually decided to not play baseball because of VEX, and I think it was the right choice," added Quinn Coomer.
The group of 13-year-olds come to school an hour early each day, and spend every chance they get in instructor Joel Kaplan's classroom. The project even comes home with them.
"Sometimes we go to each other's houses and bring the robot and bring some tools and parts to build, and just spend the night building," Armand said.
Photo: Angie Angers, staff
The team has made their way through a handful of local and state competitions. Each time they return from competition, they come back excited to build something new.
Their streak of success will now take them to the VEX World Championships in April. There, they will take on 1,200 teams, with some of their strongest competition coming from China.
This team will be representing Florida along with a team from East Lake Middle School in Tarpon Springs, and two groups from Miami.
"We have great kids here," said Kaplan. "They're motivated and have the desire, and if they have the motivation and desire they're going to do it."