Photo by Derek Redd From left, Pat Riddle, Scot Kangisser, Seth Bell and James Laurine help set up practice areas for this week’s Gateway to the West robotics tournament at The Highlands Sports Complex.

WHEELING — Robotics competitors from high school and middle schools across the nation are at The Highlands today for a chance at winning a spot in the world championships.

The third annual “Gateway To The West” tournament begins Wednesday and continues through Saturday at The Highlands Sports Complex. The public is invited to come watch and admission is free.

Registrations for both the middle school and high school competitions filled up in just minutes after going online with 80 teams set for each division.

Events started Tuesday evening, when teams came to inspect the venue and practice. Doors opened at 8 a.m. today for the first day of middle school competition, with opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. Qualifying matches are slated to take place until about 6 p.m.

Middle school qualifications continue beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Alliance selections are set for 3 p.m., and elimination rounds to follow and an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

High school qualification rounds begin at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day until 6 p.m.

Qualification rounds continue on Saturday at 9 a.m. Alliance selection is at 3 p.m. and final awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

“In registrations, this is the largest event that we’ve had,” said tournament organizer JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools. “That’s fabulous.”

“All we need is for the weather to hold out. We’ve been lucky for the past two years. We’ll just go with that and say it’s going to be good.”

“Gateway to the West” is a signature event of the VEX Robotics competition. As such, winning teams receive an invitation to compete at the VEX Robotics World Champions this spring in Dallas, Texas.

Each team paid a registration fee of $260, with most coming from outside the region. Money generated will be used to finance the cost of robotics programs in Ohio County Schools and the price for any qualifying teams from the district to travel to Dallas.

It is expected at least 1,000 people will be staying in hotel rooms locally and eating in local restaurants during the tournament, according to Shay. She reports that competing teams represent 16 states and Canada. Those traveling the farthest are from Rancho Cucamonga, California and Belleview, Washington.

Sixteen of the competing teams are from Ohio County Schools, with other local teams coming from Marshall County and Monongalia County school systems.

Rules for VEX Robotics competitions change each year, and “Push Back” is the name of the game for 2026.

“Every year the students have to come up with a solution to a new game,” Shay explained. “The structure is the same, but that is the key piece.

“The greatest thing is watching students express their passion. They are excited at what they are doing. You get to see all the individuality and creativity they bring to the design process. Each team has their own spin on it. That is what is amazing to me.”

What is also different about robotics competitions is that after the initial qualifying rounds, the top 16 teams get to select another team to partner with in the elimination match-ups.

The alliance selections can be some of the most dramatic moments of the event.

“So much thought goes into it,” Shay said. “They think about who has the best offense or defense and who would best complement their team. They really have to pay attention to what everyone else is doing.”