F.H. Clergue's Duo of Max Shillingford and Kavi Giroux working towards their 12th place finish in the Driver's Skill Challenge.
F.H. Clergue’s Duo of Max Shillingford and Kavi Giroux working towards their 12th place finish in the Driver’s Skill Challenge.
Students from the Holy Family Flames proudly display their "Think" award for superiour programming ability.
Students from the Holy Family Flames proudly display their “Think” award for superiour programming ability.

Supplied…
Five teams from Sault Ste. Marie travelled to St. Catharine’s, Ontario to compete in the Provincial VEX IQ Elementary School Robotics Championships.  These teams, winners from the local regional qualifying event, competed against twenty-four other regional champions in the Provincial Finals.  Though none of the Sault teams advanced to the World Championships, all five teams had very respectable final results.
In the major Judging categories, Holy Family Flames earned the “Think” award, for superior programming skills, and also earned the bronze medal finish in the Programming Skills Challenge, where their robot excelled in scoring with no driver input.  Rosedale and F.H Clergue added 4th and 5th place finishes in the Programming Skills Challenge.
In the Driver’s Skill Challenge, White Pines’ “Radius” finished in 7th and Holy Family Flames finished 8th.
Anna McRae’s Annabionics brought home the Judge’s award for exceptional all-round team performance.  The FH Clergue duo of grade three boys also earned an Honourable Mention Special Award for being a strong developing team.
In the Main Teamwork competition, the Annabionics and the Holy Family Flames cracked the top ten in round robin play, finishing in 9th and 10th place respectively.  They were matched together in the Playoff finals and finished with a respectable 6th place overall final result, the top placing of any Sault teams in the event.
This concludes the VEX IQ robotics seasons for the elementary school league.  Five Sault high school teams will also compete at the High School VEX Provincial Championships on March 5th, and will also attempt to earn qualifying spots for the World Championships.
Full Vex IQ event results are available at:  http://www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-iq-challenge/re-viqc-16-3767.html

Rosedale's Lucas Hermida and Shail Giroux (in yellow) watching as their robot and their teammate's robot both balance on the bonus ramp at the end of their match
Rosedale’s Lucas Hermida and Shail Giroux (in yellow) watching as their robot and their teammate’s robot both balance on the bonus ramp at the end of their match
White Pines drivers Devon Cote and Brody Bernatchez and their team partners start one of their teamwork qualifying matches.
White Pines drivers Devon Cote and Brody Bernatchez and their team partners start one of their teamwork qualifying matches.
White Pines Drivers Devon Cote and Brody Bernatchez scramble in their pit floor to make vital repairs to their robot.
White Pines Drivers Devon Cote and Brody Bernatchez scramble in their pit floor to make vital repairs to their robot.