Area schools from across the Permian Basin and parts of far West Texas met Saturday to take part in the First Tech Challenge South League Robotics Competition at the UTPB Falcon Dome. Over 200 students from 30 different schools took part in the regional competition which will decide who moves on to the statewide championship.
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Midland Christian School’s FIRST Tech Challenge robot sits in the competition area as teams wait for the start of their round Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Andrews Middle School students Scott Valencia, 14, left, and Kalen Clark, 14, right, operate their robot together as they compete in the first round of the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Dann Schantz repairs a portion of a robotics arena as teams prepare for the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon, Feb. 5, 2022, at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Alpine High School student Patrick Contreras, 16, makes last minute modifications to his robot as he prepares for his first round in the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. Contreras is a member of one of Alpine’s two robotics teams led by engineering teacher Chris Valenzuela. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Legacy High School’s Austin McElhaney, 17, pilots his team’s robot as they take part in their first round of the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
UTPB Engineering student Quinn Goettel acts as a referee for a match as area robotics teams compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Andrews Middle School’s girls only robotics team ‘Rapture Raptors’ from left, Georgia Morgan, 13, Tess Azam, 13, and Haylea Killingsworth, 13, compete in a match against other area schools during the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) league tournament hosted 30 teams and over 200 students from schools across the Permian Basin and into far West Texas such as Alpine. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Area school robotics teams compete in a match during the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Area school teams meet at an alliance table to strategize with their assigned allies before the start of their first match during the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Midland Classical Academy robotics team ‘Hot Bots’ competes in their first match of the day at the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. MCA originally started its robotics program with one team in 2012 and has since grown to support three separate teams for students across grades from 7th to 12th. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
Midland Legacy High School’s robotics team ‘Robo Junkies’ practices before their match in the UTPB practice gym during the FIRST Tech Challenge South League Robotics Tournament Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Falcon Dome. (Odessa American/Eli Hartman)
