Madison Reporter

Kromrey Middle School's Robotics Club is celebrating a significant achievement as one of its teams, The VEX Chefs, advances to the VEX Robotics World Championship. This success follows their victory at the Wisconsin State Championship, attributed in part to their robot, Gordon Ramsay 2.0.

The club had five teams competing this year, with two qualifying for the state competition. The victorious team comprises eighth graders Julia Do, Thea Langlois, and Christin Yu; seventh graders Barrett McGee and Linson Chen; and fifth grader David Speh. They clinched the top spot on March 16 after triumphing in local tournaments held in Deforest, Kenosha, and Appleton.

Coach Thanh Do remarked on the team's dedication: “They are all very motivated, committed, and work very well together. Robotics is great for teamwork, STEM learning, and a lot of fun but always very demanding in terms of commitment for any team wishing to compete in State and beyond.”

Participants in the KMS Robotics Club acquire skills such as coding and teamwork by designing, building, testing, and programming robots following VEX IQ competition guidelines. The competition features a game called Rapid Relay where two robots work together during 60-second matches to handle nylon balls and achieve specific objectives. Teams also undergo inspections, prepare for additional challenges, and discuss their engineering process with judges.

Brad Chandler from the Parent’s Council highlighted the broader benefits: “The competition experience not only challenges students to think critically and adapt quickly but also fosters collaboration and creativity, helping them build skills that extend beyond robotics.”

As they prepare for the World Championship in Dallas from May 12-14, The VEX Chefs will dedicate at least four hours per week to refining their robot design. Interested students can apply to join the KMS Robotics Club at the start of each school year.