East Islip High School’s robotics squad made their way to John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore on Jan. 25 to participate in the annual VEX V5 Robotics Competition High Stakes qualifying tournament. East Islip’s team, led by Co-Presidents Jackson Carucci and Jack Gravano, Vice President Quentin Kuhn and members William Blaschak and Andrew DeMaria, showcased their skills against a challenging lineup of over 40 robots from schools across the tri-state area. By the conclusion of the qualification matches, attended by Principal Mark Bernard and Director of Careers and Student Services Dr. Jason Stanton, they had ranked among the top teams and advanced to the quarterfinals.
“It was a great day and truly showcased all of the hard work and effort the students put towards designing and creating a high-quality competition robot,” said technology teacher James Connell, the Robotics Club adviser.
“I always look forward to the challenges that come with the VEX competitions each year,” Gravano said. “The introduction of a different game every season requires us to truly apply the knowledge we've gained in robotics class to excel.”