Manchester Elementary School’s robotics team showcased their resilience and determination at the Indiana Robotics State Competition this past Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The day started with unexpected challenges as the team found themselves in an unfamiliar position—falling behind due to three uncharacteristically low scores in the teamwork portion of the competition. However, they refused to let early setbacks define their performance. In the afternoon, the team regrouped and rallied, delivering four consecutive high scores to climb the rankings and secure a spot in the finals at 16th place. The momentum shift was fueled by a standout alliance score of 95 from the driving team of Gabe Cole, Grant Redwine, and Cora Pfaffl, who teamed up with a group from Columbus, Indiana. In the finals, the Shiners partnered with a team from Plainfield to earn a 10th place finish with a score of 56.
Their perseverance didn’t stop there. In the skills portion of the tournament—where driving and programming scores are combined—the Shiners finished 5th overall with a total score of 248, earning them their fourth consecutive trip to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas. Their driving team, consisting of Grayson Merida, Lane Witte, and Cora Pfaffl, delivered a remarkable 184-point driving score, ranking as the third highest driving score at the tournament. Meanwhile, the programming team of Grayson Merida, Lane Witte, and Gabe Cole secured a high programming score of 64.
Following their gritty performance at state, the Shiners now rank 7th in Indiana, 109th in the nation, and 325th in the world. This hard-fought achievement was earned by the dedication and teamwork of sixth-grade students Gabe Cole, Grayson Merida, and Lane Witte, along with fourth-grade students Cora Pfaffl and Grant Redwine.
It was far from an easy road, but their ability to regroup, adapt, and rise to the challenge is exactly what makes this team special. Next stop—Worlds in Dallas!
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