05-05-2025
3 Mercer County Robotics teams headed to world championship in Dallas
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – The popularity of robotics has taken Mercer County by storm over the past several years.
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It has grown so much that they now have around 50 different robotics teams within the county.
Robotics coaches thank school administrators, as well as their county's excess levy for helping them take these robotics programs to new heights. This growing popularity has even resulted in 4 straight appearances at the world robotics championships by some Mercer County Schools.
This year, three Mercer schools will have a team represented in Dallas, Texas for the VEX Robotics World Championship for Elementary and Middle School competitions.
'They get to kind of intermingle and have communication and discussions with people literally all over the world. And so being able to expose them to that kind of culture and those other kind of folks is just like it's invaluable. I think that it's just an opportunity that's just unlike any other,' said Coach Melanie Meachum, of Straley Elementary School.
The teams going will be 'Da Jellyfish' – representing Mercer Elementary School, Straley Elementary School's 'Electro Storm', and Montcalm High School's 8th grade team – 'Fire Hydraulics'.
Da Jellyfish's coach Matt Bailey explained these programs are all about the kids and their enjoyment of coding and knowledge of robotics.
'[My favorite thing is] being able to just build something from scratch and use it to like, do stuff is really fun for me,' said Ethan Wilbur, a 5th grader from Mercer Elementary School.
'Ever since my sister done it and I heard about it, I just loved it,' added Landon Beeman, a 5th grader from Straley Elementary.
This will be the second year attending for the team members of Fire Hydraulics.
Fire Hydraulics coach William Jennings explained what makes their teams tick.
'Collaboration plays a major role in robotics in general between the kids. The entire competition is about teamwork. I mean, teamwork champions is what you end up being at the end. So collaboration is incredibly important, but it is important between coaches as well. Coaches are improving every year here in Mercer County, and that is just great because it provides a better program for the kids,' said Jennings.
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The emphasis for this year's world competition has been to improve speed for many of the students like Beeman and Wilbur.
This competition will take place from May 12 through May 14, 2025.
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