SAC excels at VEX competition

2/4/2025

The St. Andrew’s College (SAC) robotics teams made their mark at the VEX Robotics Competition hosted by Ashbury College on Saturday, Feb. 1. This event, held in Ottawa, has become a favourite for our teams, with last year’s experience setting the bar high for an exciting and well-run competition.

This year, SAC sent five teams, and with an additional two teams from St. Anne’s School, 46 students and four chaperones attended the competition. On the competition floor, students demonstrated their skill and determination. All teams advanced to the playoffs, and four pushed their way into the quarterfinals. Leading the charge, Team 97779X reached the semifinals and earned the prestigious “Think Award,” recognizing their excellent autonomous programming and problem-solving skills. This was not their first season accolade; Team 97779X won the “Build Award” at an earlier competition, solidifying their reputation as a top-tier robotics team.

The excitement didn’t stop there. Team 97779X and Team 97779A performed exceptionally well in the Skills Competition, earning automatic invitations to the Ontario High School Provincial VEX V5 Robotics Championships. This remarkable achievement places them among an elite group. Only three other independent schools in Ontario have qualified for this level of competition.

Much of this success can be attributed to the leadership and experience of veteran team members Eason Z., Eric C. (Team 97779X), and Chen Yu Z. (Team 97779A), all of whom were part of last year’s team that competed at the VEX World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Their guidance and expertise helped propel their respective teams to provincial qualification, setting the stage for what promises to be another strong showing at the next level.

A highlight of the trip was celebrating the Lunar New Year at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant – an annual tradition that saw the team returning to the same welcoming venue as last year. The restaurant owner, remembering the students’ respectful demeanour, extended another warm invitation. The boys upheld their reputation, enjoying a well-earned meal after a long day of competition.

With this latest competition behind them, SAC robotics teams now turn their focus to preparing for the Ontario Championships, ready to push their limits and continue their success in the world of competitive robotics.

Team Rosters:

Team 97779A: Chen Yu Z., Kenzo C., Tony Y., Erick Q., David W., Kevin T., Leo L., Albert F., Justin Z., and Nick W.

Team 97779X: Eason Z., Andy X., Daniel S., Jeremy D., Aaron Q., Simon L., and Eric C.

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