with video: 40 teams gather at Skyline High School for robotics competition

“It’s the best combination of sports and technology all rolled into one,” David Nolff, the state’s volunteer coordinator, said.

The robots, 28-inch by 38-inch by 60-inch structures of wire and metal, can weigh no more than 120 pounds, excluding batteries and bumpers.

Hundreds of students, parents and supporters filled Skyline’s gym in a massive crowd of cheering and shouting that more closely resembled a basketball game than a science competition.

The day-long event included a series of short matches of a soccer-like game called “Breakaway.” Six robots, divided into two alliances, had to collect as many soccer balls into their goals as possible while climbing bumps and defending their territory against the other alliance.

Though alliances scored points collectively, individual schools are ranked based on their overall score after 12 matches.

“You’ll be playing with this team one match and the next match, playing against them,” Nolff said. “(We call it) ‘coopetition,’ because one moment you’re cooperating and the next moment you’re competing.”

Skyline, which opened in 2008, competed for the first time.

“It’s hard, but it’s really fun,” sophomore Senait Dafa said. “I just like building stuff.”

Dafa is part of Skyline’s engineering magnet program and said she wants to study science or engineering in college.

Like their Team 830 neighbors — consisting of students from Huron High School, Community High School, Washtenaw Technical Middle College and Skyline High School — Dafa said her team met 6 days a week to prepare, with each student contributing at least 10 hours a week.

Team 830 has been competing since 2002 and was ranking in the top five throughout the day.

Tegwyn John, a Skyline freshman who competed with Team 830, said she wants a career in science and engineering and joined the robotics team to meet people with similar interests.

“I’ve been doing science and engineering since first and second grade,” she said. “This seemed like the logical next step in continuing that.”

Teammate Carl Vitullo, who is a senior at Washtenaw Technical Middle College, said the competition is a lot cooler than it looks.

“If you tell people you’re on a robotics team, they think you’re a bunch of nerds in a basement,” he said. “But when they see the robot, they’re blown away.”

More than 2 dozen different forms of recognition were awarded during the competition. Among the honors for locally based teams:

• Team 66, based at Willow Run High School, was named Winner No. 3 and also took the Team Spirit Award.

• Team 830, based at Huron High School, was named Finalist No. 2 and also took the Judges Award.

• Skyline's Team 3322 won the Rookie All Star Award and Highest Rookie Seed.

Sponsoring organization FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — encourages young people to develop an interest in science and technology through mentoring and programs.