Students from Bellefontaine City Schools spent the past week competing on one of the biggest stages in student robotics, as three teams represented the district at the VEX Robotics World Championship.
The global competition, held in St. Louis, features only the top two percent of robotics teams worldwide, bringing together competitors from more than 30 countries.
For the first time in school history, Bellefontaine High School sent two teams to the world championship: Team 9185T, known as “Terminator,” and Team 9185K, “Kratos.” Both teams competed in separate divisions, earning recognition from judges, coaches, and fellow competitors for their performance and professionalism.
Terminator finished with a 4-8 record, placing 68th in their division. The team’s standout moment came with earning the prestigious Design Award, which recognizes excellence in the engineering process and detailed documentation. The team’s engineering notebook, led by Lorenz Henry, chronicled the entire season, including design changes, testing data, and decision-making processes.
Kratos wrapped up their run with a 3-9 record, finishing 79th in their division. Despite the results, the team built on a season filled with progress and success, setting the stage for future competition.
At the middle school level, Team 9185B, the “Banana Boys,” showcased determination across 10 matches over three days, finishing with a 6-4 record and placing 38th. Their strong teamwork and sportsmanship earned them a spot in the tournament bracket after being selected by Team 9050E, “Galaxy,” from South Dakota. The alliance was eliminated in the opening round.
Across six days and more than 5,000 matches, Bellefontaine’s student engineers demonstrated skill, resilience, and sportsmanship on an international stage.
The trip also marked a milestone for the program, as Team 9185 earned its first-ever VEX Worlds-level award. Special recognition goes to seniors Lorenz Henry and Mason Swisher for capping their high school robotics careers with a trip to the world championship.
School officials also expressed appreciation to families and supporters who helped make the experience possible, allowing local students to compete and represent their community at the highest level of robotics competition.
