We saw a big weekend for VEX Robotics, with nearly 150 teams competing in the Omaha Metro area across three tournaments. There was a big surge in High School teams qualified for the Heartland Regional Robotics Championship.
Congratulations to the following newly qualified High School teams who will be competing at the Heartland Regional Robotics Championship: 5069B (DERP.exe) & 5069D (Trojan Mustangs) from Millard North HS, 2501B (Optimus Dime) & 2501C (Point Blank Jackets) from Thomas Jefferson HS, and 5053A (Pioneer 1) from Fort Calhoun HS. These team qualified from the two High School tournaments this weekend: Omaha North VEX Robotics Tournament – High School Division and Elkhorn High School VEX Robotics Tournament.
Congratulations to the qualified Middle School team 985E (RoboDragons) from Mary Our Queen School for the Heartland Regional Robotics Championship. Team 985E qualified from the Omaha North VEX Robotics Tournament – Middle School Division. The other qualifying spots were taken by teams that had already qualified in prior Middle School tournaments.
The VRC Heartland Regional Robotics Championship will host 44 of the best High School VEX Robotics teams and 32 of the best Middle School VEX Robotics teams from Iowa and Nebraska. This post is an unofficial list of the teams have currently qualified for the Heartland Regional Robotics Championships as of December 12th, 2015. Check out the full details of who has qualified below. Note: This post is unofficial, it should not be used in an official capacity.
- You can find full event details for the High School division.
- You can find full event details for the Middle School Division.
Current Heartland Regional Robotics Championship Qualifiers
High School Qualifiers
- 5069Y / Vexy Mustangs
Millard North HS - 1028A / C:DOSRUN
Brownell-Talbot - 2501J / Full Metal Jackets
Thomas Jefferson HS - 1028S / Mandroids: Sarkeesibot
Brownell-Talbot - 3018 / Techna Pwn
Techna Pwn Robotics - 5813B / Black Squirrels
Abraham Lincoln High School - 8675 / Fuzzy Wuzzy 2.0
National Robotics Academy - 6685A / Vexecutioners
Millard South High School - 6685R / Vexorsism
Millard South High School - 5155C / Oops…We’re a Team
Cross County Robotics - 5155A / Organized Chaos
Cross County Robotics - 5155D / EROR 404
Cross County Robotics - 5069B / DERP.exe
Millard North HS - 5069D / Trojan Mustangs
Millard North HS - 2501B / Optimus Dime
Thomas Jefferson HS - 2501C / Point Blank Jackets
Thomas Jefferson HS - 5053A / Pioneer 1
Fort Calhoun HS
Middle School Qualifiers
- 985A / Enlightened Luddites
Mary Our Queen - 1073A / Decoded
Marrs Magnet Middle School - 1073F / Ghost Riders
Marrs Magnet Middle School - 1054C / Liftin Away
McMillan Magnet Middle School - 985C / Robohawks
Mary Our Queen School - 1073E / Computer Maniacs
Marrs Magnet Middle School - 3919C / Young Guns
St. Patrick’s Catholic School - 3018V / Vexcalibur
Techna Pwn Robotics - 3141R / Random Bits
Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, and - 985B / Spartans
Mary Our Queen School - 985E / RoboDragons
Mary Our Queen School
How do teams qualify for the Heartland Regional Robotics Championship?
The qualification process for the VRC Heartland Regional Robotics Championship is similar to the last season with State Championships. The primary difference is, in past seasons only Nebraska tournaments qualified for the Nebraska State Championships (and vice versa). Now VEX Robotics tournaments in both Nebraska and Iowa can qualify teams for the VRC Heartland Regional Robotics Championship. The number of Regional qualifying spots at these tournaments depends on the size of the tournament:
Level 1: 16 – 23 teams will qualify up to 3 teams
Tournament Champions (2 teams)
Excellence Award winner (1 team)
Level 2: 24-59 teams will qualify up to 5 teams
Tournament Champions (3 teams)
Excellence Award winner(s) (1-2 teams) *
* The 2nd Excellence award is for mixed tournaments that host HS & MS. An excellence award can be given to one High School and Middle School team in those cases.
Level 3: 60+ teams will qualify up to 8 teams
Tournament Champions (3 teams)
Design Award winner (1 team)
Robot Skills Champion (1 team)
Programming Skills Champion (1 team)
Excellence Award winner(s) (1-2 teams) *
* The 2nd Excellence award is for mixed tournaments that host HS & MS. An excellence award can be given to one High School and Middle School team in those cases.
Skills Challenge will qualify 5+ teams
Skills rankings from all official events will be included in the VRC rankings.
The top 5 high school/middle school teams from both Nebraska and Iowa (5 total, not 5 from each State.) as of February 8th, 2016 in each skill challenge will be automatic qualifiers. (Pending availability additional teams may also qualify in order of ranking.)
Qualifying for the World Championships at the Heartland Regional Robotics Championship
Forty-four of the best High School VEX Robotics teams from both states will compete for nine qualifying spots to compete at the World Championships. The nine qualifying spots are achieved through the following awards:
- Tournament Champions (3 teams)
- Excellence Award Winner (1 team)
- Design Award Winner (1 team)
- Programming Skills Winner (1 team)
- Programming Skills Finalist (1 team)
- Robot Skills Champion (1 team)
- Robot Skills Finalist (1 team)
The Middle School Division of the VRC Heartland Regional Robotics Championship is a similar setup, with some minor differences. The Middle School tournament size will be 32 teams. There will be five World qualifying spots that are achieved through the following awards:
- Tournament Champions (3 teams)
- Excellence Award Winner (1 team)
- Programming Skills Champion (1 team)
If there are any duplicates in for the above awards in either division, the remaining open World Championship Qualifying spots will be filled by the top skills challenge Scores.