Get Excited About Robotics (GEAR) is an eight-week LEGO robotics challenge for students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade.
More than 1,000 elementary and middle school students competed in the Get Excited About Robotics (GEAR) competition Saturday (April 8) at Texas Tech University, which is an eight-week LEGO robotics challenge for students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade.
Bennett Elementary’s Team 3 and Oak Ridge Elementary’s Team 3 qualified for GEAR finals April 29 at the Red Raider Ballroom at Texas Tech University. Bennett’s team consisted of students Jake Sowder, Archer Uzzel, Emerson Rodgers and Jackson Hacker. Oak Ridge’s team consisted of students Cole Keeton, Camden Reese and Owen Sparks.
Student teams build and program LEGO robots using EV3/MINDSTORMS EV3 kits to perform specified tasks.
To solve the challenge, students learn engineering skills through a team exercise in designing, building, programming, testing and troubleshooting wheeled LEGO robots that perform and compete on an 8-foot-by-8-foot field.
During the past 11 years, Texas Tech University has served as a local GEAR hub for the competition in Lubbock. During this time, the competition has grown from a trial run held with Harwell Elementary School in 2006 to a competition featuring 295 participating teams.
This year, more than 1,000 students participated from more than 65 schools, clubs and organizations from the Lubbock area and across the South Plains.
Students from all Frenship elementary campuses competed, including:

Bennett Elementary
Ryan Pharies, Abi Mills, Ryan Cluff, Jake Sowder, Aiden Uzzel, Archer Uzzel, Drew Penney, Logan Sircable, Jack Corbin, Jayson Eulenbach, Harrison McDonald, Caitlin Mayfield, Parker Dickenson, Matthew Noel, Henry Johnson, Colton Landers, Steven Rogers, Gretchen Dunn, Maddie Hernandez, Lucy Dyal, Brylee Autrey, Jackson Hacker, Kason Womack, Emie Dawson, Emerson Rogers, Brealyn Lowe
Coaches: Donna Branch and Amber Maddox
Crestview Elementary
Zoe Abney, Carson Beardemphyl, Micayla Conner, Brittley Foster, Revan Gill, Dalton Hardaway, Peighton Justus, Morgan Kelley, Hamzah Soujah, Samantha Spoth, Jack Tucker, Kaitlyn Villearreal, Lauren Villegas.
Coach: Jared Kitchens
Legacy Elementary
Aaliyah Saenz, Abraham Ragland, Addie Manson, Aiden Ramirez, Angelina Guzman, Annela Camus, Ashley Jeffers, Brooklyn DelaCruz, Carson Lattimore, Damien Martinez, Ethan Davis, Garrett Stuart, Geniah Wade, Giancarlo Rivera Melendez, Hailey Ramirez, Kellan LePage, Kira Bazylevska, Kolton Hernadez, Leopold Karl Krempuer, Sarah Vuilliomenet, Shelby Stiham, Xavier Vasquez-Gaona
Coaches: Drew Blair and Ann Moushon
North Ridge Elementary
Khlyer Garrett, TJ Nelson, Camron Gibbs, Mason Campbell, Anthony Guirguis, Joleaus Espino, Nathaniel Prieto, Addi Coats, Allison Rey, Matthew Rogers, Shane Anish, Jayden Butt, Noah Quintero, Ashton Edwards, Gabe Gearhart, Aubree Rodriquiz, Izzy Flores, Madi Guzman, Sarah Rose, Aubree Davis, Corbin Bryan, Brianna Westbrook, Michael Martin, Alexis Clark
Coaches: Chandra Malone, Leeta Rogers

Oak Ridge Elementary
Theo Bordeos, Austin Casarez, Jayden Hegdal, Ethan Hunsaker, Addison Hutchison, Bethany Hutchison, Jackson Hutchison, Cole Keeton, Michael Maddox, MacKenna McNeely, Noah Nguyen, Corey Ogle, Jorge Perez, Camden Reese, Bailey Shelton, Owen Sparks, Landon Taylor, Abi Thomson, Scout Trumble, Euriz Venasquez, Kaden Wolden
Coaches: Sunnie Otto and Tara Beeson
Upland Heights Elementary
Kellan Carrasco, Ashley Griffin, Lauren Griffin, Brayden Hogg, Fernando Miranda, Dani Duff, JT Martinez, Katy Bernard, Audrey Cepica, Addison Pickering, Brady Simmons, Emma Carter, Julia Griffin
Coach: Donna Branch
Westwind Elementary
Nathan Behpour, MJ Demegillo, Karleigh Rosas, Kade McKenzie, Grayson Jenkins, Jeremy Morrison, Nyelle Ward, Courtney Wilson, Kaitlin Michael, Angelina Nadeem, Lola Koppi, Drake Axtell, Colton Watts, Phoenix Luna, Clayte Edwards
Coaches: Angela Howard and Randy Harman
Willow Bend Elementary
Xitlali Chelsea Nunez, Analyssa Enger, Gisselle Bravo, Bryan Ndi, Jason Casares, Vanessa McMullin, Cheyenne Salas, Pedro Loredo, Nevaeh Briceno, Aracely Arocha, Elijah Ards, Carlos Revelle, Emery Hernandez, Shopia Saenz, Mateo Sandoval, Obed Favela, Zachary Trevino, Jonathan Reyna, Maizy Adams, Gabby Landin, Alex Dannemiller, Elian Carmona, Celeste Landin, Reynaldo Loredo
Coaches: Robert Nunez and Sandra Dannemiller
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Congrats to all of the students who participated in the competition!