Innovation was on full display this season as students across the School District of Manatee County showcased their talent, teamwork, and determination through a series of VEX IQ Robotics tournaments — culminating in an outstanding showing at the North/Central Florida Regional Championships in Clermont.
A Strong Start at Home
The journey began with four district-hosted tournaments in January and February which highlighted the innovative STEM opportunities made possible through STEM millage funds.
At Haile Middle School, robotics educators Tony Vasile and Kevin Ison welcomed more than 70 elementary and middle school teams across two days of competition.
Excellence Awards were earned by:
Team 331W, Whiteout Geckos – Willis Elementary
Team 7222C, The Pibblers – Nolan Middle School
Team 331S, Sesame Squad – Willis Elementary
Team 605A, Lightrix – Braden River Middle School
The momentum continued the following weekend at Southeast High School, where additional elementary teams competed under the leadership of Hanna Cuervo (Willis Elementary) and Lisa Wood (Samoset Elementary).
Notably, Team 331W, Whiteout Geckos from Willis Elementary, captured the Excellence Award for the second consecutive weekend — an incredible achievement!
In total, 22 elementary teams and 7 middle school teams advanced to the Regional Championships.
Regional Championships: Competing with the Best
On February 28 and March 1, Manatee County teams traveled to Clermont to compete against top-ranked programs from across North and Central Florida and they delivered remarkable results.
🌟 Elementary Highlights
Teams from Braden River Elementary, Gene Witt, Gullett, Harvey K-8, Lake Manatee K-8, McNeal, and Willis earned:
6 Regional Awards
4 Honorable Mentions
3 World Championship Qualifying Awards
Special congratulations to:
Team 34202D, Thunderbolts – McNeal Elementary
Team 331S, Sesame Squad – Willis Elementary
Team 331W, Whiteout Geckos – Willis Elementary
These teams qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship, which will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, at the end of April!
Additional elementary achievements included multiple Teamwork placements, a Build Award, Inspire Award, Amaze Award, and strong Skills Competition rankings — including a 9th place finish out of 55 teams.
Adding to the celebration, Tom Brugos of Gene Witt Elementary was named North/Central Florida Region Teacher of the Year — a testament to the exceptional educators leading these programs.
⚙️ Middle School Success
Middle school teams from Braden River Middle, Haile, Harvey K-8, Mona Jain, and Nolan also earned top honors, including:
Teamwork 3rd Place & Sportsmanship Award – Haile Middle (2502A)
Energy Award – Haile Middle (2502B)
Judges Award – Nolan Middle (7222C)
Skills Competition Top 10 Finish (8th out of 70 teams!)
Powered by Students, Supported by Community
These competitions would not have been possible without the dedication of teachers, coaches, parents, volunteers, and community partners who served as judges, referees, and event staff. Their support ensures students have opportunities not only to build robots — but to build confidence, collaboration skills, and future-ready problem-solving abilities.
From elementary classrooms to the world stage, Manatee County robotics students are proving that innovation thrives here.
Best of luck to our World Championship qualifiers as they prepare to represent Manatee County on the global stage, April 21st through May 1st in St. Louis, Missouri.
We are incredibly proud of every student, educator, and family who made this school year one to remember!