Platte Valley N.E.R.D.S. finding robotics success

SUBMITTED BY JESSICA WALLACE
Platte Valley N.E.R.D.S. Robotics Club members are shown at the KC East League Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 1. From left are Lyndon Hayden, Andy Lager, Teagan Moutray and Nolan Wallace.

BELTON, Mo. — The Platte Valley N.E.R.D.S. robotics team found success at a recent tournament.

According to information provided to The Forum by Jessica Wallace, Novice Engineers Robot Design Society (N.E.R.D.S.) finished in seventh place against 28 teams at the KC East League Tournament qualification matches on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Belton, Missouri. During those matches the team won four of five contests. In the final match their alliance had the highest score of the qualification matches in the tournament with 234 points. The next highest score of the tournament was 204.

From there the top 11 teams automatically advanced to playoff matches. With the top six teams choosing their alliance members, the N.E.R.D.S. were selected first. The alliance won three of the four matches ranking second in competitive bracket play. This advanced them to the Missouri Kansas City West Super Qualifier set for Saturday, Feb. 15, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

During the competition, the team also received the Design Award for their robot.

N.E.R.D.S. is comprised of South Nodaway students Lyndon Hayden, Teagan Moutray, Nolan Wallace and Jefferson student Andy Lager. The team is coached by Jerry Nelson and Royce Cozine. The coaches did not return a phone call to The Forum for more information.