March 9, 2020

7th grade robotics team crowned state champion

A robotics team, comprised of Fort Couch Middle School seventh graders, took home the gold at the Western Pennsylvania Middle School IQ State Championship. The team, which also earned the STEM Research Project Award, is comprised of Owen Bell, Ian Dvorin, Ryan Hyatt, Rohan Mehta and Carlee Santel.

This marks the second consecutive year that the team, Gear Grinders, has won this competition. The robotics tournament was held on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at Clarion University.

Thirty-three middle school teams from throughout the region competed in the day-long competition. Thursday’s win qualifies Gear Grinders to advance to the 2020 VEX Robotics World Championship - VEX IQ Challenge Middle School Division, which is set for April 26-28, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky.