Teams from across the county recently participated in the first round of this year’s VEX Robotics competition at the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC). (Submitted photo)

LISBON — Last week, the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) was alive with innovation and competition as students participated in the first round of this year’s VEX Robotics competition. Teams from across the county showcased their engineering skills and teamwork in three divisions: high school, middle school, and elementary.

In the high school division, teams faced off in a game called High Stakes, where strategy and precision were key. Teams earned points by placing rings on stakes positioned throughout the playing field. To add complexity, some stakes were mobile, allowing teams to strategically move them into corner zones to increase or decrease their point value. The game also featured a challenge — climbing a ladder in the final moments of the match for bonus points. Participating high schools included Columbiana, Crestview, East Palestine, East Liverpool, Leetonia, Wellsville, Springfield, Beaver Local, and Salem.

Middle school teams tackled Rapid Relay, a fast-paced game that required robots to pass balls between each other and launch them through designated targets to score points. The emphasis on coordination and precision kept the matches thrilling from start to finish. Middle school teams represented Springfield, East Palestine, East Liverpool, Crestview, Columbiana, and Beaver Local.

The youngest competitors also participated in Rapid Relay, showcasing their early talent for robotics and teamwork. Schools from Southern Local, East Liverpool, and Columbiana competed.

As the competition progresses, teams will continue refining their robots and strategies, aiming for a spot at the state competition and even the world competition. Events like these highlight the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and provide students with valuable hands-on experience in engineering and teamwork.