Writes Christopher Docherty, Teacher of DET
On the 16th of March, the DET workshops transformed into an arena of innovation and rivalry as four fearless Upper Thirds teams stepped forward to battle for the title of Best VEX IQ Robotics Team of the Year. From the very start, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation— gears whirred, and every team worked with laser focused determination to apply their final upgrades before the competition truly ignited.
The opening challenge was Autonomous Coding. In a display of precision engineering and flawless programming, MTS_R3boot surged ahead, claiming the top spot and setting the tone for the evening.
Then came the heart of the event—the matches. With each team competing in three intense rounds alongside different alliance partners, every point mattered. The scoreboard tightened, the tension rose, and by the end of the matches, only eight points separated all four teams. With a narrow lead, MTS_4lpha stood at the top… for now.
But everything changed in the Driver Skills round. Here, MTS_R3ckless unleashed a spectacular performance, racking up an impressive thirty point run that sent shockwaves through the leaderboard.
The final test was the judging of the teams’ meticulously crafted engineering notebooks. Once again, the quality was outstanding across the board, but it was MTS_R3ckless who claimed the highest honours, strengthening their push for the crown.
At last, the teams gathered as Mr Docherty and Mr Willson stepped forward to reveal the final standings. Silence fell. Hearts pounded.
And then—eruption.
MTS_R3ckless were crowned Taylors’ Champions, greeted with cheers, pride, and well earned celebration!
A special commendation goes to the valiant competitors MTS_Optimus_2ndary, MTS_4lpha, and MTS_R3boot, whose teamwork, resilience, and competitive spirit elevated the entire event.
Finally, none of this would have been possible without the relentless dedication of all involved—especially Veer P. (Yr9) and Kian K S. (Yr8), whose unwavering commitment as referees kept the matches running smoothly with impeccable timekeeping and scoring.
