Submitted photo The Liberty Robotics Team 91445E, Attack of the Sentinels, finished in eighth place at the VEX IQ World Robotics competition in St. Louis. From left are teammates Vincent Ferrara, Gabe Pekalla, Jacob Lepsik and Christian Coggins, all eighth graders.

LIBERTY — The Liberty Robotics Team 91445E, Attack of the Sentinels, finished eighth overall at the VEX IQ World Robotics competition in St. Louis earlier this week.

The team, consisting of eighth graders Jacob Lepsik, Christian Coggins, Vincent Ferrara and Gabe Pekalla, competed in three days of qualifying matches and earned a 19th place in their division out of 400 teams from around the world. That ranking allowed them to compete in the division finals, where they finished in eighth place.

In addition to their success in match play, the team also demonstrated strong technical ability, finishing 90th in the Skills Challenge rankings among elite competitors.

This marks the first time a Liberty robotics team has advanced to the World Competition. Its performance showcased not only skill and preparation but also dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship on an international stage, according to a news release from the district.

“Liberty Schools extends its sincere appreciation to the supporters, sponsors and community members who helped make this opportunity possible. Their encouragement and investment in the robotics program continue to create meaningful experiences for students,” the release states.

“The amount of time, effort and determination these students put in to reach this level is incredible,” said head robotics coach Jacob Mellinger. “I couldn’t be more proud of how hard they worked and the way they represented our school on the world stage.”