Twelve Turlock High School students are putting their robotic skills to the test for the Central Valley Region Sack Attack Tournament VEX Robotics Competition this Saturday at Modesto Junior College.  Fifty-four teams will come together for a non-stop, action packed day of competition where they will battle against each other with robots created from the VEX Robotics Design System. 

Over 250 students (75 from local schools), will compete in the VEX Sack Attack game that is played on a 12 foot by 12 foot square field.  Two alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams each, compete in matches.  The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance by scoring sacks and bonus sacks in designated areas and by having the most robots of a team’s color parked at the end of the match.

“We have been preparing for many months for this competition,” said THS Engineering Technology teacher Bob Hoskins.  “This year we are entering two robots and our students have been working during school and also during after hours to make sure they are ready to compete.”

The VEX tournament gives students the opportunity to experience the thrill of building their own competition robot.

“The competition serves as a vehicle for students to develop critical life skills,” said Hoskins.  “Our students are growing as a team and are learning leadership skills while learning the principles of engineering.”

The Central Valley Gateway Robotics Championship is one of a series of VEX Robotics Competitions taking place internationally throughout the year.  Participating schools include: Central Valley High School, Ceres High School, Enochs High School, Turlock High School and Valley Charter High School. 

“We are hopeful our team will do well this year,” said Hoskins. 

The competition is free and open to the public and will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mary Stuart Hall on Modesto Junior College's West Campus.