WAHOO (SNR) – The Cavalry Robotics Club hosted by Saunders Catholic Schools qualified for the U.S. Create Open National Tournament and the VEX World Robotics Tournament.
Students from Bishop Neumann and St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo and St. John Nepomucene in Weston participated in the Cavalry Robotics Club and competed in 10 robotics and drone tournaments this year.
Unfortunately, the students will not be able to participate in the national tournaments due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, in the just the fourth year of the Robotics Club, they received many awards and trophies.
In the club, students learn and apply concepts in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Activities vary by age group starting with the fifth grade through high school. The club is based on the VEX Robotics platform and materials. Cavalry Robotics teams take their robots to tournaments to compete with robots from other schools and clubs. This year the club also added a drone program and several teams competed in drone competitions in Nebraska.
The club competed in 203 matches in 10 tournaments this year and ended with an overall record of 111-90-2. The Robotics Club had eight teams with 23 members. One middle school team was the runner-up at the Nebraska State Robotics Tournament, qualifying them for the VEX World Championship. Another middle school team was the Skills Champion at the Alfonzo Davis tournament, qualifying for the U.S. Open. This team was also a semi-finalist at the Nebraska State Tournament.
The Cavalry Robotics Club is managed by Marv Weise and Theresa Barger and coached by volunteer parents. St. John’s Men’s Club in Weston donates the facility used for practice and building the robots.
The Cavalry Robotics Club was founded in 2016 with the assistance of the Flavin Fund grants from the Diocese of Lincoln and private donations.
The schools are supported by parishes in and around Wahoo, including St. Joseph Parish in Colon, St. Mary in Davey, St. James in Mead, Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Plasi, St. John in Prague, St. Vitus in Touhy, Ss. Mary and Joseph in Valparaiso, St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo and St. John Nepomucene in Weston.
