Competitors, audience welcome robots' comeback contest
Published 11.11.2021
1-pound weight class winners
First place – Antonio Sesto, "Off-Brand Paper Towels"
Second place – Nate Franklin, "Slim Pickens"
Third place – Seth Shaffer, "Mini Mulcher"
3-pound weight class winners
First place – Brandon Nichols, "Mondo Bizarro"
Second place – Danielle Flannery, "Purple Nation Army"
Third place – Nate Franklin, "Thunder Child"
– Photos by Kollin G. Kisner, student photographer; winners' photos provided by SWORD

Stocked with an arsenal of tools – including pliers, tape and fortitude – Austin N. Deibert, of Slatington, works on his robot. A SWORD member, he is enrolled in the four-year automation engineering technology: robotics & automation major.

Is this what they mean by "putting on your game face?"

Spectators outside the competition arena get an eyeful.

Sparks fly as the head-to-head heats up.

Clearing the field for the next bout

Awards were presented to the top three in each category, adding hardware to the prestige.

A dogfight goes airborne

Battle scars, but no signs of quitting

Undefeated the entire day in his first competition, Sesto gets first-place honors from Bohenek with an antweight robot emblazoned, "Clean up, aisle 6."

Nichols proudly displays his first-place award in the beetleweight class, presented by the SWORD president.
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