Robotics competes as an AIA sport

Xavier’s newest sports team begins preparing for Nationals.

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Tori Tanigawa

Senior Tiffany Meyer shows off her robot.

robotics1 robotics2A new club has just stepped things up to a whole new level. The AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) declared robotics a nationally recognized sport. The team of 15 students are preparing to go to an upcoming competition in November. They practice after school and have a new seventh period class this year taught by Mr. Nathan Ward.

The students must work together to build a robot out of the parts given to them by the competition moderators. Mr. Ward said, “T​he biggest challenge so far is really everything!”

The team just received their starter kit, which happened to be only a box of wheels. These engineers are now building under a tight time frame. The team is hoping to reach the same pinnacle as the team 10 years ago, which won at Nationals.

The club is a fun and relaxed environment where the girls can work on an aspect of robotics in which they are interested. The club’s president Care Anton, junior, said, “It is nice to see a group of girls who are interested in technology.”

The club is recommended for anyone who is interested in STEAM and mechanical engineering, as well as management and programing.