By Mary Reynolds

Special to the Leader

Team TORC, the Oxford High School robotics team, had a great showing at the state championship last week at Saginaw Valley State University.

The state championship was played on four competition fields, with TORC competing on the Ford Field. After finishing in 11th place out of 40 teams competing, TORC moved up and became the captain of the 8th Alliance. Choosing Team 503, from Novi, and Team 4970, from Escanaba, TORC had their first semifinal match against the #1 ranked teams of Ford Field.

The TORC Alliance power shined and TORC handily beat the #1 Alliance, moving them into the semifinals. TORC Alliance again came out on top, sending them into the Ford Field finals, matching them against the #2 ranked alliance.

Match one of three went to the #2 Alliance of Team 6075 Leland Zebrotics, Team 2767, StrykeForce of Kalamazoo, and Team 5114 the Fenton Titanium Tigers.

TORC came back with power in the second match scoring the high score of the day (at that time) of 497 points and winning the second match. The rubber match went to the #2 Alliance who went on to the finals in the state championship.

TORC’s end results gave them enough points to advance to the world competition which taking place in St. Louis next week.

You can check out TORC and other teams at www.thebluealliance.com and if you’d like to help TORC with expenses to the World Championship, please contact TORC at mhTORC2137@gmail.com or send checks to Team TORC, c/0 Oxford High School, 745 N. Oxford Road, Oxford.