Needmore Robotics honored at school for top 10 finishes at world championship

BEDFORD – The Needmore Elementary Robotics teams capped off an impressive year with a trip to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas, where they finished within the top 10 of their respective divisions. 

Team 70632F placed fourth in the Arts division and Team 70632G seventh in the Innovation division.

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In addition to their rankings at the world championship, the teams found success at local level throughout the year.

Team 70632F finished 10th at the Indiana State Vex Robotics Championship event in the driving and programming portion of the event, while Team 70632G finished 13th. Prior to state, both teams also took first place in their alliances during a virtual competition to qualify them for the state championship.

In another competition, which was done in-person in Seymour, where they competed against 40 other teams, the school brought home first place in both driving skills and autonomous driving skills, which would have qualified them for the championship event a second time.

Needmore also took part in an NLCS robotics scrimmage, where they competed against other district elementary schools, as well as Oolitic Middle School. In that scrimmage, Needmore finished first, second and third in both driving and autonomous skills.

Needmore Elementary hosted a surprise pep rally Monday morning in the school’s gymnasium to honor the team’s accomplishments, as well as to present them with awards that had been made to commemorate their season. 

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Each participant was given two trophies, one of which was made for them out of balls used during the world championship event, as well as certificates from Sen. Eric Koch and Rep. Chris May. 

Needmore Robotics Coach Lu Kuehn received a special award, a trophy made for her by team member Nathan Tomlin.  

Needmore Principal Susan Petty spoke to the teams to close the pep rally, thanking them on behalf of the school for their effort over the season. 

“Thank you to these very special boys who have helped put Needmore Robotics on the world map. You brought our whole school family closer and you made an entire school, an entire community and an entire county proud of you,” Petty said near the end of Monday’s rally. 

Needmore Robotics members: 

Team members: 

• Jay Mayer 
• Lonnie Gonzales 
• Tate Turner 
• Sadie Luallen 
• Forum Patel 
• Will Thompson 
• Hunter Chastain 
• Leo Mayer 
• Saeben Arce 
• Blake Beeson 
• Ethan Fulford 
• Nathan Tomlin 

Coach:

• Lu Kuehn 

Volunteer Assistant Coaches 

• Olivia Hudson 
• Jim Thompson 

Noah Dalton is a reporter in Bedford, IN. He can be reached at ndalton@tmnews.com