Pierce Earns the Design Award at Grand Island High School
By Tiffany Chaney
The Pierce High Robotics teams went to Grand Island on February 8 and competed in matches throughout the day. Both teams competed in the competition including 71414A Noggin Boppers consisting of Andrew Lienemann, Makayla Shefl, and Brandon Thompson; and unable to attend Tiffany Chaney and Christian Nordby. The second team, 71414G Gear Giggles Gang, consists of Ethan Chaney, Kohin Eichberger, Nicholas Fisher, Alexander McKeown, and Layne Prince.
The Noggin Boppers received the Design Award based on their judges' interviews and their extensive engineering notebook. The Design Award recognizes an organized and professional approach to the engineering design process, project and time management, and team organization. The Design Award recognizes a team's ability to document and explain their engineering design process via an engineering notebook and team interview.
“Getting to the finals for the first time in my career was pretty stressful, but getting the design award for the second time was exciting,” Lienemann said.
The Pierce teams faced off against each other in the first round of qualification matches. The Noggin Boppers partnered with a team from O'Neill, and won the battle over the Gear Giggles Gang paired with a team from Omaha, 29-6.
In the qualification rounds, Gear Giggles Gang finished 3-3 and ranked 23rd; GAMORR selected them from Cross County in Stromsburg.
"Team 71414G Gear Giggles Gang showed a tremendous amount of growth as the team of freshmen learned the world of VEX robotics and competition,” coach Treva Dostal said. “The team should be very proud of all they accomplished as they end their season."
Noggin Boppers finished 5-1 and ranked third; the second seed selected them, Parts on Order, from Grand Island.
Again the Pierce teams were against each other in the Round of 16 in the tournament and the result was the same with a 37-7 victory for Noggin Boppers/Parts on Order.
The Noggin Boppers and Parts on Order continued their winning ways by winning the quarterfinal match 27-12 and their semifinal match 26-0.
The combo faced one of the best teams in the state, Cereal Killers from Cross County in Stromsburg, and their partner, Random Bits from Bellevue in the final. It was a great battle but in the end, the opponent's efficiency proved too much to overcome and Pierce’s Noggin Boppers took the loss, 39-23.
Team 71414A Noggin Boppers have a very strong chance of qualifying for the state tournament based on their skills score standing among Nebraska VEX teams. The tournament will be held March 14-15 at Omaha North.
