The Hayward Middle School Drone Soccer Team soared into the history books when they won Ohio’s first ever drone soccer event.
Hayward competed against the Global Impact STEM Academy Drone Soccer Team last week in a tournament held at Hayward. The competition was the first in the state, according to XTremeSTEM, the organization that oversees drone soccer in Ohio.
Drone soccer is a fast-growing new sport, originating from Asia, that involves two teams of up to five players per team. Each player is equipped with a drone and has a position, similar to traditional soccer (i.e. striker, defenders). The drones are flown in a large steel cage, and the winner is determined by the team that scores the highest number of goals.
Schaefer and Roosevelt Middle Schools have also expressed interest in forming drone soccer teams, as well as schools from outside districts. The Hayward Drone Soccer Team, and future Schaefer and Roosevelt teams, are sponsored by The Braxton Miller Foundation. The Foundation also sponsors Hayward’s XTreme Bots Team, which creates robots that battle one another in regional competitions.
"This innovative program teaches in-demand skills like drone technology and teamwork,” said District Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill. “Being part of this historic event will surely inspire Hayward’s students to continue reaching new heights."