COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio - Elementary and middle school level robotics teams in the Mahoning Valley recorded high scores this week at the VEX IQ Ohio State Robotics Championship where they competed against top programs across the state.

Notably, The Almighty Cheeto Puffs from Columbiana Middle School maintained a top ranking throughout the two-day competition in Dayton. They finished first in qualifying and final matchups. The students were also honored as the 2026 Teamwork Champions, along with the Judges' Award for their "exemplary performance and overall team excellence." The team included Colton Burns, James Conrad, Parker Clark, and Sammy Harberson. They also placed 12th in skills with a high score of 235 points.

Code A Cola also represented Columbiana Middle School. They placed 32nd out of 47 teams and consisted of students Derrick Hepner, Carson Greene, and substitute Delaney Morris-Rouse.

In the elementary division of the championship, The Birb Gang and The Purple Pringles from Columbiana Joshua Dixon Elementary School competed alongside a total of 49 teams. The Birb Gang finished 41st and recorded a high score of 89; the team consisted of Rivers Purcell, Ethan Kryzs, Dominic Kramer, Valin Rouse, and Andrew Gilpin. Audrey Conrad, Gus Churchman, Raylee Pizzedaz, Crosby Delvaux, and Mason Erdel made up the Purple Pringles which earned a 7th place finish in the finals with a tournament high score of 163.

Robotics teams from Crestview Local School District also attended the championship on Monday and Tuesday. Three of the five teams from Crestview made it to the finals with one, the Dunkaroos, taking the Excellence award for the second year in a row. The award honors the "top-performing, all-around team that excels in both judged and performance categories."

Brody Pancake, Abby MacKay, Owen Lindsay and Henry Long made up the Dunkaroos team.

The Dunkaroos and the Almighty Cheeto Puffs' achievements have also earned both teams spots in the upcoming VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri which is set for April 28-30.