Top Tier Robotics, a Plymouth community team, wins first high school scrimmage at Zionsville Event

Top Tier Robotics, a community robotics team based in Plymouth, won its first high school scrimmage this weekend at the Zionsville "Carb Day" Pre-Speedway VEX V5 Scrimmage.

Top Tier brought two teams to the event: their veteran squad, "Mechannibalism," and their new high school team, "Zingbots." During the qualifying rounds, Mechannibalism went 2-3, and Zingbots went 1-4, landing them ranked 10th and 11th out of 12 teams, respectively.

But the elimination bracket told a different story. Mechannibalism was chosen by the 9th-ranked team, Vicious Vortex out of Park Tudor, to ally with in the elimination bracket. The two teams battled their way from the bottom half of the bracket to handily win it all.

Top Tier head coach Jed Wandland was impressed with how his teams performed. "I couldn't be more proud of how well the kids performed today, especially considering how competitive the other teams are at this event," Wandland said. "They've put at least a hundred and fifty hours into these robots this summer when they could have been doing other things, and it's incredible to see the payout."

The scrimmage was an invitational hosted for the most competitive teams headed to this weekend's Speedway Signature Event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Winners of the Signature Event will qualify directly for the VEX Robotics World Championships held later this season.

Beyond competition, the organization has also been busy recruiting and reaching out to the community. Top Tier spent time constructing a float for the Blueberry Festival Parade to generate recognition and bring kids and adults together before the competition season.

Top Tier is also hosting two tournaments of its own at St. Michael's Catholic School in Plymouth on November 14th and February 6th. Both tournaments are free and open to the public.

Top Tier Robotics smiling on their parade float after the Blueberry Festival Parade (L to R): Back Row: Megan Hamand, Olivia Wandland, Jonathan Celmer, Jed Wandland, Sean Otto, and Jackson Williams. Front Row: Nate Honer, Bently Quint, Luci Hamand, Lucas Haag, Eleanor Komorowski, Phil Hamand, Michael Wandland, Chloe Joshick, and Miles Stoneburner.

Photo 1: Zingtbots and Mechannibalism members pose after the scrimmage. (From L to R) Front Row: Olivia Wandland, Luci Hamand, and Chloe Joshick. Back Row: Hayden Barnhart, Carter Richards, Michael Wandland, and Miles Stoneburner.