On Feb. 13, five Lower and Middle School robotics teams competed against schools from across the state in a Regional GA FIRST LEGO League Tournament hosted by STEAMSport. The new virtual format eliminated this year’s Super Regional round of competition, meaning that fewer teams advanced to the State Tournament. Nevertheless, Pace RoboKnights swept the Regional award categories.
The Lower School’s Coding Chickens, coached by Lower School science teacher Katie Sandlin and fifth-grade teacher Hayley Hardwick, were named tournament champions and won first place in the Robot Performance category. The Lego Legends, another Lower School squad led by Sandlin and Lower School Librarian Catherine Lampley, took the top prize in Robot Design and placed third overall. Sandlin also joined forces with Lower School Counselor Ashley Zomalt to coach the COVID Coders to a solid performance.
Code Jedi, the sixth-grade team led by Middle School science teacher Alyson Tockstein, placed first in the Core Values category, and coach Zach Slaney and the seventh- and eighth-grade members of Pick Up the Pace won first prize for Innovation Project and were second overall.
Both the Coding Chickens (pictured) and Pick Up the Pace will continue on to the State Tournament. A live online awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 13. Congratulations, Knights!