ZEELAND, Mich. — Robotics teams have taken over middle and high schools across the country, with the popularity of organizations like FIRST.
Cityside Middle School in Zeeland has already made their mark on the popular extracurricular, earning a spot in the 2024 World Championship.
The "OverClucked Bots" is one of only a handful of teams in Michigan to earn a spot, after winning the highest honor at the state competition.
Friends and teammates DeeDee Voskuyl and Anne Barbutti said the moment was an emotional one.
"When we found out at states, we were all going crazy," Voskuyl said. "She and I were crying, and like it was just really awesome finding out."
Seventh grader Voskuyl is a programmer and the team's head of marking. Barbutti, also in seventh grade, helps with both programming and building the bot.
"It's something really special what we have, like, as a team," Barbutti said.
The team has their work cut out for them, given most of the other 140+ teams competing will be made up of high schoolers.
Nico DiLaura, an eighth grader and lead programmer for the team, said it's intimidating, but they know it's not about winning.
"I think Worlds, for me, is less of a winning opportunity and more of an experience, so we're blessed to get to worlds," DiLaura said. "It's kind of intimidating, but at the same time, super excited and just going to have fun."
The team has been working all year on the robot, named Dilly, which they designed, built and programmed with the help of a coach and mentor.
The Championship is April 17-20 in Houston.
To get there, the team has a GoFundMe set up that will help fund the big trip.
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