Supplied by the Algoma District School Board…
Sault College will once again play host to the Northern Ontario VRC Robotics Qualifier, as high school students from across Northern Ontario will meet to compete in this year’s game; “In the Zone”. This is the 5th annual VEX VRC event being hosted in the Sault and will see 15 teams from Hornepayne, Wawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Blind River, Sudbury and Barrie square off in competition to earn invitations to the upcoming VEX VRC Provincial Championships in late-February. Action includes individual team Skills Challenges with the main event, the Team Matchplay Round-Robin matches on Saturday, December 16th from 9am to 2pm, and top teams meeting in the playoffs from 2pm to 4pm.
This year’s game will have teams of 2 robots compete against 2 other robots to stack cones to create tall towers, moving goal towers into increasingly difficult target zones, and defending their own cone towers against their competition.

The action will take place the Sault College’s Health and Wellness center (F-Wing) with free admission and free parking (J-Lot South). Spectators are welcome to observe the action, meet the teams and watch their efforts in the pits, as they prepare for each match.
The top five teams from this event will earn invitations to the Ontario Provincial Championships in St. Catharines, February 24th, 2018, where they will attempt to earn a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championships, in April, 2018. Worldwide, 20,000+ teams from 28 countries will battle for a spot at this World event. Last year, one of our local teams, Lone Wolf Robotics, advanced to the World Championships, where they finished 31st out of over 600 teams who attended that event.

This local qualifying tournament is made possible by the incredible support of TenarisAlgomaTubes, the Algoma District School Board, Sault College, The Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO – Algoma Chapter), and The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT – Algoma Chapter). Volunteers from Sault College, Tenaris, ADSB, local engineering companies and local secondary schools have graciously donated hundreds of hours to put on this annual event.

COMPETING Superior Heights C&VS, Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s Collegiate, Sault Ste. Marie
SCHOOLS: Korah C& VS, Sault Ste. Marie Hornepayne High School, Hornepayne
Michipicoten High School, Wawa W.C. Eaket High School, Blind River Lockerby Composite School, Sudbury PIVX Panthers (Independent), Barrie

WHERE: Sault College, Health & Wellness complex
443 Northern Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 16th, 2017:
9:00 am – noon: Qualifying Teamplay Matches/ Skills Challenge Matches
12:45 pm to 2:00 pm. – Qualifying Teamplay Matches / Skills Challenges conclude
2:15pm: Playoff Draft
2:30pm to 3:45pm: Playoffs and the Gold Medal Match
4:00pm: Awards Ceremony