Photo by Derek Redd Members of the Cinnamon Toast Crunchers of Sherrard Middle School compete at the VEX Robotics Gateway to the West tournament Wednesday. From left are seventh grader Zada Grisell, seventh grader Breea Dougherty and seventh grader Rivi Wilson.

WHEELING — Fun, food, and even some female friendships led the day as the Gateway To The West robotics tournament kicked off Wednesday at The Highlands Sports Complex.

Middle school students took over the robotics arena on the first day of the competition.

Fiona Donaghy, a sixth-grade student at Bridge Street Middle School, said it was her first year participating in robotics.

“I watched for two years, and I really liked the criteria that was going on — just how everybody was so focused on building and computations and all the other parts of robotics,” she said.

“And this lunch break — it’s so big, and we have a lot of concessions. Everybody can just enjoy it.”

Donaghy was joined by a friend from another school — Ally Grosso, a sixth grader at Wheeling Middle School.

Grosso was quick to note she was the only girl on her team, and that it was nice to hang out with other girls at the robotics tournament.

Her interest in robotics began when she attended a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program in Washington, D.C.

“We built our first robots during that week, and I realized I love robotics and thought I might as well do it since this is my sixth grade year,” Grosso said. “I’m the only girl doing this at my school.”

She noted the distinction actually made her feel “a little nervous.”

“There are, like, no other girls I can talk with,” Grosso continued. “There are no boys in my entire classroom for homeroom.”

She would like other girls to know that robotics is “fun,” and there are some perks.

“There is a lunch break, and you can miss school to come to this event,” she said. “The best thing is meeting new people, and helping people with their stuff.”

Meanwhile, an all-girl team from Sherrard Middle School — the “Cinnamon Toast Crunchers” — is composed of six seventh-grade females. They are Zada Grisell, Breea Dougherty, Sophia Shia, Kacey Thames, Emma Earliwine and Rivi Wilson.

They agreed it’s nice to have other female teammates with whom to collaborate.

“It’s just way easier,” Grisell explained.

“We’re all friends and stuff, so we’re always by each other,” Dougherty added.

Grisell said she got interested in robotics last year when she was in sixth grade.

“My cousin does robotics as well, and I wanted to do something she does,” she said. “I ended up liking it.”

Grisell wants other girls to know they can make an impact on the STEM community by getting involved with robotics now.

“I just want them to try it out, I guess.”

There are times when women can do things better than men, Earliwine added.

“It makes for a more mixed atmosphere, and everybody knows they can do something,” she said.

There were four teams from Sherrard at the Gateway To The West, and the all-boy L’il George team had the table right next to the Cinnamon Toast Crunchers.

Members of L’il George are seventh graders Gavin Pickett, Evan Cunningham, Joziah Baker and eighth graders Zane Gast and Kabe Blake.

They agreed participating in the robotics tournament was fun, and they were asked what they liked best about participating.

“The food,” Gast said. He reported he had just had a burger and a Pepsi, while others on the team had had Chick-fil-A nuggets. “And I feel the best thing is making friends.”

Organizers reported the event was “moving smoothly” on Wednesday, and it was even running a little ahead of schedule, according to JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools.

There are 80 high school teams and 69 middle school teams signed up to compete, and they come from 16 different states and Canada,

The second day of middle school competition continues today, with the middle school winners expected to be crowned in the late afternoon.

High school action takes place on Friday and Saturday.