The St. John’s Jesuit Academy Robotics Team includes, front from left, Nick Carroll of Whitehouse, Sean Wheelock of Toledo, Raymond Antypas of Lambertville and Russell Zieroff of Toledo. Back, from left, are Isaac Lepow of Holland, Stephen Beyer of Maumee, Amir Horani of Toledo, Dominic Scarlett of Maumee and Andrew Kurtz and Harry Thaman of Toledo. Not pictured is Nick Brodie of Waterville. (Photo courtesy of St. John’s Jesuit Academy)

The competition involves designing a robot made from Legos and writing programs for the robot to accomplish a set of tasks.

 “In August, the boys began designing the robot and writing sophisticated programs for the robot to follow, such as lifting an ice core drilling machine from is original location and bringing it back to base or moving levee blocks to a specific area on the competition mat,” explains teacher Joni Trempe. “They worked after school and on many Saturdays.”

The boys, aware of the growing problems of climate change, presented a research project on the issue to Toledo community leaders who were volunteer judges. They boys described the impact of their visits to Davis Besse, Xunlight and the Toledo Technology Society Luncheon in preparation for the competition.

The Robotics Team includes: Raymond Antypas, Nick Brodie, Stephen Beyer, Nick Carroll, Amir Horani, Andrew Kurtz, Isaac Lepow, Harry Thaman, Sean Wheelock, Dominic Zirbel and Russell Zieroff.

“They did an outstanding job,” says Chris Knight, principal. “We are also very grateful to coaches Vicki Kurtz, Carol Wedding and faculty member Joni Trempe.”

The team competes for the state title Feb. 14 in Dayton.