FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifier

BEN MATTHEWS ~ bmatthews@semissourian.com

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Schools across Southeast Missouri brought their teams and their robots to the Show Me Center on Sunday, January 29, 2017 for a FIRST Tech Challenge qualifying tournament hosted by Southeast Missouri State University. FIRST Tech Challenge gives students the opportunity to design, build, program, and operate robots in head-to-head challenges.

Jackson students maneuver their machine in a robotics tournament at the Show Me Center Cape Girardeau on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Camdenton Middle School students Tristen Steele, grade seven, left, and Clayton Cowen, grade eight, right, marvel at their machinery during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on Sunday, January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Piedmont students Caleb McElmurry, left, and Trey Rivas, right, prepare for their next round in a robotics competition at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Brigham Haase juggles between matches in a robotics tournament at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)

Camdenton student Kevin Uthe makes adjustments to his team's machine before their next match in a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Parkway South freshman, Jeff Woodhouse, makes adjustments to his team's robot during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Parkway South team members Ian Woodhouse, Drew Zoghby, Tingxuan Zhang, and Abhiram Vangala talk with members of the Joebotics team from St. Joseph's Academy during a break between matches in a robotics tournament at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Members of the Chaffee team tweak their machinery during a break between matches in a robotics tournament at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Kristi Jansen watches Leopold compete while holding six-month-old Paisley during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)

St. Dominic teammates Jacob Luebbers and Rose Stout practice operating their machine during a break between matches in a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Eureka students Matthew Clark and Tyler Rhoades, left, work with Lesterville students Ryan Helenschmidt and Brendan Myers, right, to get their robots to shoot a ball into their goal during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Scott County Central junior, Ashlee Dawson, performs maintenance on his team's machine during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Members of the Joebotics team from St. Joseph's Academy entertain one another in-between matches in a robotics tournament at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)
Ritenour Senior High student Jeremy Smith tries to relax, despite their mascot's attempts to keep him energized during a robotics competition at the Show Me Center on January 29, 2017. (Ben Matthews)