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Sharon robotics2

Members of the Sharon High Robotics Team run their robot before heading to Oxford, Pa., for the State Championship.



SHARON – In only its second year, the high school robotics team at Sharon is headed to the state championships.

The team was one of four that earned spots in this weekend’s statewide competition.

“It’s pretty impressive for this little group of kids,” coach Jennifer Barborak said. “We never expected to be going to state.”

The Sharon High School robotics team competed against 24 other teams from across Pennsylvania in the FIRST Tech Challenge state qualifying tournament, which was held Sunday at Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County.

The team placed fifth overall, advanced into the playoffs at the tournament and won one of three rounds.  

Barborak coaches the team with her husband, Rick. Dave Tomko oversees the district’s robotics program.

In addition to qualifying for state, Sharon won awards for innovativeness and sportsmanship.

The team received the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award, an award that celebrates thinking outside the box. It is given to the team that has the most innovative and creative robot design solution to any specific components in the FIRST Tech Challenge game.



Sharon robotics

Klaus Curde, left, senior at Sharon High School and senior programer for the Sharon High Robotics team, and Emma Barborak, sophomore and media director, work on programming the teams robot for their up and coming robotics state championship in Oxford, Pa.



“Elements of this award include elegant design, robustness and ‘out of the box’ thinking related to design,” Barborak said.

This award can address the design of the whole robot, or a portion of the robot.

The Sharon High Robotics Team also came in second for the Inspire Award, the highest award given at a tournament. This judged award is given to the team that embodies the “challenge” of the FIRST Tech Challenge program.

“The team that receives this award is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and a role model FIRST Team,” Barborak said. “This team is a top contender for many other judged awards and is a gracious competitor.”

As runners-up for the Inspire Award, Sharon advanced to the state tournament, which will be held in Oxford.

Follow Melissa Klaric on Twitter and Facebook @HeraldKlaric, email: mklaric@sharonherald.com.

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