East Allegheny Welcomes Regional Teams for VEX V5 Robotics Competition

On January 16, East Allegheny Junior/Senior High School proudly hosted its VEX V5 Robotics Competition State Qualifier. The event brought together qualifying student teams from across the region for a full day of problem-solving, teamwork, and competition. Organized by robotics team sponsor Holly Spallone and coaches Marcie Sippey, Kathy Chenot, and Josh Miller, the competition welcomed 13 school districts and 29 teams, transforming the gym into a hub of STEM activity and excitement.

“We were really excited to host our first VEX competition this year,” says Spallone. “It was rewarding to see all the teams hard at work and having a great time.  There is a demand for more competitions in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area and this was a way to highlight our successes as a team and as a district.” 

The competition highlighted what makes robotics such a powerful and engaging educational experience. Students stepped into the roles of engineers, programmers, strategists, and communicators as they tested their designs in the VEX V5 Robotics Competition Push Back game. Matches take place on a 12-by-12-foot field and include both an autonomous period and a driver-controlled period, challenging teams to think critically, adapt quickly, and work together under pressure. Points are earned by scoring blocks into goals, controlling goal zones, and strategically parking robots at the end of each match.

While precision and strategy are key to success, the true focus of the event is student growth. Robotics competitions develop curiosity and resilience, encouraging students to question, tinker, and refine their designs in real time. When a robot doesn’t work as expected or needs repairs, students see it as an opportunity to rethink, redesign, and improve. Along the way, participants build essential soft skills such as collaboration, communication, time management, and adaptability in a high-energy, authentic learning environment.

“Robotics competitions are a way for students to learn real-world skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and communication as they compete with the robots that they have designed and constructed,” explains Spallone. “They also get to interact with students from different districts that have similar interests - forging friendships that extend beyond the classroom.”

Four East Allegheny teams competed alongside schools from across Pennsylvania. Team 13756A (Team A), made up of Coen Miller, Mason Osterritter, and Gavin Grant, advanced to the finalist round, earning a second-place finish in both the tournament and the Skills competition. Team A competed in alliance with a team from Penn-Trafford. The tournament championship was claimed by a two-team alliance from Dubois Area Senior High School following an exciting, action-packed final match.

East Allegheny’s Team A is currently ranked fourth in Western Pennsylvania for skills, and both Team A and Team B have qualified for the Western State Championship, which will be held on March 9 at Clarion. Team A has also earned an invitation to the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Championship, an invitation-only national event taking place March 16 through 19 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. As one of only four teams representing Pennsylvania, the students will compete against top teams from across the country.

Events like this help students see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and innovators, building not only robots but also confidence and problem-solving skills. “The East Allegheny School District administration, school board, and EA community have been very supportive of our program and its growth,” says Spallone.

The district extends sincere thanks to the East Allegheny National Honor Society, dedicated parents and teachers who volunteered their time, and the Turtle Creek Rotary Club for their generous support. Their commitment helped make this memorable and meaningful STEM experience possible for all students involved.

 Team 13756A – Coen Miller, Mason Osterritter, Gavin Grant

Team 13756B – Erik Indrunas, Ca’Meer Murphy, Jahrome Santiago Ortiz, Logan Ziober, Parrish Coles

Team 13756C - Anastasia Lucas, Ian Miller, Corey Guyer

Team 13756D – Ella Burchell, Giavannah Bentley