25-04-2025
WC robotics team prepares for VEX Robotics World Championships
Over a year ago, Washington Catholic's Ethan Armstrong, Jace Hammer and Kaden Yonce started working on their team robot for this season's VEX Robotics contests. They tweaked designs. Changed the coding to run THE CARDINAL multiple times, rewrote manuals and have spent countless hours finding ways to have a edge over the other teams they face.
'We started working on this robot right after Worlds last year,' said Armstrong, who said VEX releases the challenge for the competition year at the conclusion of the world championships.
All that work and dedication has paid off as the trio of WC Cardinals will head to the VEX Robotics World Championships May 6-8 in Dallas, Texas, where they will be one of more than 800 qualifying teams to take the field.
'We qualified on a skills challenge,' said Armstrong, a senior who plans to continue pursing his passion for robotics at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in the fall. 'Right now, there are 840 teams who have qualified to go to Dallas for Worlds.'
The path to earning a spot in the world championships where they are guaranteed 10 qualification matches has included eight contests.
'Before, there were some contests we would go out of state for but this year, the contests were all around Indy and southern Indiana,' said Armstrong who serves as the driver for THE CARDINAL.
Those contests netted multiple awards for the team including three tournament championships and multiple skills and creator's awards including one at the state championships earlier this month.
The set up for worlds will be just like the others this year.
'We will have a minute and 45 seconds for driving,' said Yonce who serves as the team drive coach. 'The first 15 seconds the robot cannot move with human intervention.'
Hammer's job is to make sure THE CARDINAL is prepared for the challenge.
'I'm the mechanic. I help set up the field and make sure we have full batteries and plenty of air,' said Hammer, adding the team works with coach Ryan Hoyt after school at least three days a week.
While THE CARDINAL will be the only WC robot heading to Dallas, thanks to robotics grant from the Indiana Department of Education, the high school was able to form two additional robotics teams this year.
'This is the first year we've been able to have more than one team,' said Sarah Voges, Washington Catholic marketing director. 'Those funds have really allowed us to expand the opportunities for our students.'
While grants help pay for equipment, they don't pay for the cost of travel to the world championships. The cost of the trip is around $5,000 and those wanted to support the students can bring cash or checks to the parish office. For more information email Hoyt at rhoyt@
Check out the video of THE CARDINAL in action at
