Middle School Robotics Crowned State Champions
Four teams in our Middle School Robotics program traveled to Hereford Middle School on Saturday, February 18, to compete in the Maryland VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) Middle School State Championship.
All four teams ended the qualification round with winning records and advanced to the elimination rounds. Going into Alliance Selection for the elimination rounds, our teams were ranked 1st, 3rd, 8th, and 12th out of a field of the best 24 teams in the state. After a brilliant Alliance Selection process masterminded by Cole Rohrbach '27, each of our four teams ended up with different alliance partners and were collectively ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th overall, which gave them all a first-round bye during the elimination rounds. All four teams made it to the semifinals where they had to begin competing against one another.
In the finals, Team 7135B, who were allied with a crafty partner from Sparks 4-H Club, faced off against Team 7135Z, who were allied with a tenacious team from Hereford Middle School. After a best of three duel, Team 7135B and their partner were victorious and became the Maryland State Middle Robotics Tournament Champions. This is the second year in a row that a Loyola middle school team has earned this title. As a result, Team 7135B has been invited to the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, TX, at the end of April.
All four teams ended the qualification round with winning records and advanced to the elimination rounds. Going into Alliance Selection for the elimination rounds, our teams were ranked 1st, 3rd, 8th, and 12th out of a field of the best 24 teams in the state. After a brilliant Alliance Selection process masterminded by Cole Rohrbach '27, each of our four teams ended up with different alliance partners and were collectively ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th overall, which gave them all a first-round bye during the elimination rounds. All four teams made it to the semifinals where they had to begin competing against one another.
In the finals, Team 7135B, who were allied with a crafty partner from Sparks 4-H Club, faced off against Team 7135Z, who were allied with a tenacious team from Hereford Middle School. After a best of three duel, Team 7135B and their partner were victorious and became the Maryland State Middle Robotics Tournament Champions. This is the second year in a row that a Loyola middle school team has earned this title. As a result, Team 7135B has been invited to the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, TX, at the end of April.
Additionally, because of their third place ranking in Maryland’s Middle School Robotics Skills rankings and because other teams ahead of them in this competition have already qualified for the World Championships, we expect that Team 7135Z will also receive an invitation to the World Championships.
Other honorable mentions from the tournament include the following:
Other honorable mentions from the tournament include the following:
- Team 7135Z earned the Amaze Award which goes to a consistently high performing and competitive robot.
- Team 7135R ended their first semifinal match in a 71–71 tie, and had to replay the match to determine a winner. This almost never happens and represents an amazing achievement since this team was competing against more experienced robotics teams.
- Team 7135A is currently ranked 6th in the state in Robotic Skills and would be considered an alternate at the World Championships if any other teams could not represent Maryland.
"Our Middle School Robotics teams were competitive, aggressive, sportsmanlike, and in all ways great Dons in representing our school and the robotics community," said Mr. Ryan Bromwell who serves as one of the program's faculty coaches. Please congratulate the following students who represented Loyola with heart, grace, sportsmanlike conduct, amazing energy, and great skill. We are so proud of all of them!
Team 7135A – Ryan Verch '29, Jay Cloman '27, Finn Mitchell '28, and Will Barker '29
Team 7135B – Andy McHugh '28, Asher Corbin '29, Will Gaarder '29, and Mark Flukinger '29
Team 7135R – Alek Ramsey '29, Kaelin Ransome '29, Dan Price '28, and Kellan Rellihan '28
Team 7135Z – Cole Rohrbach '27, Billy Novotny '28, Nick Fought '27, and Landon Dickerson-Tieperman '27
Also, a special thank-you to our coaches Mr. Ryan Bromwell, Mr. John Gangler, Ms. Brigid Mitcherling, and Ms. Jennifer Pearson for their guidance and passion throughout the season.
Next up, we have four high school teams competing in the Maryland VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) High School State Championship at Dundalk High School on Saturday, March 4.
Also, a special thank-you to our coaches Mr. Ryan Bromwell, Mr. John Gangler, Ms. Brigid Mitcherling, and Ms. Jennifer Pearson for their guidance and passion throughout the season.
Next up, we have four high school teams competing in the Maryland VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) High School State Championship at Dundalk High School on Saturday, March 4.
