Just one day after school let out for winter break, ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY’s VEX IQ Navigator Robotics teams 4442A, 4442B, and 4422A were competing at the State of Hawaiʻi REACH – North Shore VEX IQ Tournament hosted by Waialua High School. The elementary and middle school tournament featured 47 teams from all over Oʻahu.
The three teams were captained by Joshua (‘22), Emma-Rose (‘22), and Chase (‘24). By the end of the competition, team 4442A received the robot skills finalist award and 4422A received the elementary school design award.
“I am happy that at this tournament all of our teams made it to the finals,” said Navigator Robotics Coach Robyn Cabuslay.
Brian Lu (‘19), a high school student, coached team 4442A; it was his first time coaching a VEX IQ team. He was proud of how the teams persevered and competed respectfully throughout the tournament.
IPA’s high school VEX team’s main driver, Colton Okimoto (‘18), was one of the four volunteer referees at the event. When he is not competing, Colton often refs at VEX IQ competitions, which is what he will be doing at IPA’s own tournament to be held on February 4th. Colton said, “I feel that reffing at other schools’ tournaments is a good way to give back the Hawaiʻi robotics community.”
The VEX IQ team’s next tournament will be on January 21 at Pearl City High School, and our high school VEX team will be competing on January 5 at the Hawaiʻi VEX State Championship on the Big Island.
