Sulphur Springs Middle School is gearing up to host an exciting event – the Texas Youth Robotics Alliance (TYRA) Kickoff Tournament. The tournament, which will take place on Saturday, December 2nd, promises to be a thrilling display of young minds in the field of robotics.

Using Peggy Reimers’ innovative ruleset named “Hi, Bye, Pizza Pie!”, teams of talented robotics students will come together and form random alliances with other teams. These alliances will then compete in qualifying matches, where they will manipulate objects autonomously and with driver control to complete specific objectives.

What sets this tournament apart is its unique bracket-style knockout competition. After three matches, the top scoring teams will have the opportunity to select an ally and together, they will compete in a bracket-style tournament until a championship alliance emerges victorious.

The tournament is divided into two divisions: Intermediate and Advanced. Students from Mr. Moreno’s Intro to STEM class at Sulphur Springs Middle School have been diligently preparing their robots for this event. In addition to the local teams, participants from Clarksville, Mount Pleasant, Eustace, and Red Lick are also set to participate, with more registrations pouring in as the tournament draws near.

However, these exciting robotics tournaments would not be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers. If you have a passion for robotics and would like to support these young students on their journey, consider signing up to be a volunteer. By filling out a short form before Friday, November 10th, you not only guarantee yourself an awesome TYRA volunteer shirt in your size, but also a free catered lunch on the day of the tournament.

The Texas Youth Robotics Alliance Kickoff Tournament is an incredible opportunity to witness the talent and creativity of young robotics enthusiasts. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us at Sulphur Springs Middle School for a day of thrilling competition and groundbreaking innovation.