By Bart Moss for the FCT

The Tharptown High School Robotics team finished second in the Underwater Lions competition sponsored by the University of North Alabama recently.

There were six teams competing from north Alabama counties. It was Tharptown’s second year to compete in the event. Homeschool organization Creekside won the competition.

“We are really proud of our robotics teams,” said Tharptown High School Principal Barry Laster. “We have had a lot of participation in this program for the past two years. It is an important area to learn. More and more jobs are being lost to robots and automation. If we can provide an avenue for our students to learn in this field, we believe it will give them a head start on their competition in the workplace.”

Students were tasked with building an underwater robot also known as an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). Ten students worked to build the ROV: Caleb Carruth, Jesus Guzman, Micaela Franks, Valeria Vela, Linda Bahena, Anslee Bottoms, Coleman Warhurst, Joseph Thompson, Perla Chavez and Chris Amos.

“I am really proud of our students and the job they did,” said Marsha Inmon, Tharptown High School’s robotics instructor. “They have worked hard at school and after school to get this project off the ground and going in the right direction.”

The competition had three parts: obstacle course, fouled propeller and barge welding. The obstacle course and fouled propeller were timed events.

Thompson, Guzman, Warhurst and Chavez represented Tharptown in the competition.