- April 21, 2026
-
-
Loading
Loading
With Vex Robotics, everything is about problem-solving. When team Thunderbolts' robot wasn't picking up pins efficiently, they had to make some changes and figure out what works best through trial and error.
Traction links weren't doing the job, so instead they used standoff connectors. Complicated stuff but all in a day's work for the fourth and fifth graders.
Three elementary school Vex robotics teams — two from Willis (all in fifth grade) and one from McNeal (fourth grade) — are headed to compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship from April 28-30 at the America's Center in St. Louis. They are competing in this year's game “Mix and Match.”
Fourth graders Matteo Saviano, Kenny Van Slyck and Avery Szuma make up team Thunderbolts from Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School. They were all originally on different teams, but their teacher, Vic Kolomiychenko, decided to put them together.
"We worked so hard on this robot," Van Slyck said. "We had to make three quarters of the robot out of no instructions and we're all feeling happy. This was a great accomplishment for us in our first year and we've got next year too and hopefully other teams can follow in our footsteps."
Kolomiychenko said the team basically lives in his room and constantly does research in school as well as at home.
He said it took the team time to realize what Vex is all about — it’s not just about being the best from simply ratings or points. It is about being creative and innovative.
“It’s awesome as a coach, seeing them grow during this time from knowing very little about Vex to knowing as much as I do,” Kolomiychenko said.
The White Geckos team consists of Willis students Shaan Kuchibhatla, Chris Hoke, Keira Summerlee and Parini Adsod.
Hoke is a driver, builder and coder for White Geckos. He said they started with a hero bot (the basic robot teams are given) and added a double motor and double claw. The claw helps pick up pins more efficiently and the motors make the arm stronger and faster.
Keira Summerlee said being part of Vex has done wonders for fulfilling her love of science and teambuilding. Even when things go wrong, she knows she can problem solve and trust her teammates.
“You can't just sit there like a blob, not doing anything about the problem,” Summerlee said. “That wouldn't help anybody. That wouldn't help your score, wouldn't help your team, wouldn't help your robot.”
Also from Willis is The Sesame Squad, which includes Ayansh Agrawal, Austin Chen, Alia Kovacs and Lydia Tuncaci.
Sesame Squad went a different route and built an original robot, but the arm wouldn’t go up all the way. Kovacs said they made a new four-bar arm and their main goal was to make sure everything was stable and efficient.
“This robotics program is more than just technology,” Hanna Cuervo, one of two Vex advisors at Willis, said. “It's an opportunity to develop independent learners, engineers, teamwork, leadership and a strong work ethic.”
“We put our blood, sweat and tears into our robot and the driving and the notebooking and the loading,” Summerlee said. “Overall, I’m happy to make it this far.”
