MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—A group of local students will soon take their engineering skills to an international stage as Grant Middle School Robotics Team 2281B prepares to compete in the 2026 VEX World Championship.
The team—made up of eighth graders Mackenzie Carpenter, Ryan Harper, and London Ratliff, along with seventh grader Westin Kile—will travel to St. Louis for the competition, scheduled for April 28–30. They will participate in the VEX IQ Middle School Competition’s Spirit Division.
Team 2281B is one of only five teams from Ohio to qualify for the prestigious event, which draws top robotics students from around the globe. More than 400 middle school VEX IQ teams are expected to compete, representing 46 states, Canada, and numerous countries across Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.
The championship provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in robotics design, programming, and teamwork while competing against some of the best young engineers in the world.