UCS robotics teams dominate annual ThunderQuest

Utica Community Schools teams built a winning combination at the annual Lego Robotics ThunderQuest tournament on December 6.

UCS teams comprised only a quarter of the tournament entries, but took home half of the first place honors awarded at ThunderQuest - the largest regional Lego Robotics tournament in Michigan.

Approximately 55 regional teams participated at this year’s event, with the top eight winners going to the state championship.

UCS teams qualifying for the state tournament include the Burr Robodogs of Burr Elementary, No time fo dhat of Crissman Elementary, the Fighting Chickens Who Eat Mac & Cheese of Crissman Elementary and the Maveracks from Messmore Elementary.

Results of the ThunderQuest for UCS teams include:

ThunderQuest Special

• Team Spirit - first-place, the Brain Drainers of Switzer Elementary
• Robot Playoff Winner - No time fo dhat, of Crissman Elementary

Robot Awards

• Mechanical Design - first place: Fighting Chickens Who Eat Mac & Cheese of Crissman Elementary
• Strategy & Innovation - first place: No time fo dhat of Crissman Elementary
• Robot Performance - highest score: Fighting Chickens Who Eat Mac & Cheese of Crissman Elementary

Project Awards

• Research - first place: Burr Robodogs of Burr Elementary
• Innovative Solution - first place: DracoBots of Dresden Elementary
• Presentation - first place: Maveracks of Messmore Elementary
• Presentation - second place: Brain Drainers of Switzer Elementary
• Research - third place: Lego Mages of Beck Elementary

Core Values Awards

• Inspiration - second place:Top Class Eagles of Ebeling Elementary
• Inspiration - third place: Taco Tuesdays of Monfort Elementary
• Gracious Professionalism: Blazing Rockets of Morgan Elementary

FIRST Lego Robotics introduces younger students, ages 9-14, to real-world engineering challenges by building Lego-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface.

The ThunderQuest tournament featured several competitions, including a tech presentation where students created an autonomous robotic vehicle that will follow a course on a 4X8 table. Students also compete in teamwork competitions and display a project that describes their solution for issues identified through the national World Class challenge.