The Omaha area VEX IQ League Play launched its inaugural season with the first ranking session at Jesuit Academy on November 19, 2018. Forty-seven matches — including both ranking and skills runs — were completed by 7:00 PM, made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers.
What Is League Play?
League Play is a special competition format designed to deliver the tournament experience in smaller, more accessible pieces. Rather than a single full-day event, league play splits the season into several shorter sessions — each only a few hours long — held weeks apart. It's a lower-pressure way for new teams to learn the game and build confidence before the championship.
The 2018-19 Omaha league used the Next Level game and was geared specifically toward new and developing teams. Of the 20 participating teams, 17 were competing in their very first season, and the remaining 3 were only in their second year.
Session 1: Jesuit Academy Ranking Results
The first ranking session was held at Jesuit Academy (2311 N 22nd St, Omaha, NE). Teams checked in starting at 4:45 PM, competed in four qualifying matches each, and had the opportunity to run skills challenges.
Ranking Match Results (Avg Score after Session 1):
| Rank | Team | Name | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19989A | Jesuit Jaguars | 12.67 |
| 2 | 985M | Magellan | 11.00 |
| 3 | 19989B | Jesuit Jaguars 2 | 8.67 |
| 4 | 42920A | Holy Cross | 8.00 |
| 5 | 42920B | Holy Cross | 6.33 |
| 6 | 70G | Goofy Gizmos | 4.67 |
| 7 | 15771B | BionicCardinals | 4.33 |
| 8 | 15771C | Circuit Breakers | 4.00 |
Skills Challenge Results:
| Rank | Team | Total | High Auto | High Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 42920A | 11 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 985M | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | 19989A | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Participating Teams
Teams came from schools and community organizations across the Omaha area, including Jesuit Academy, Mary Our Queen, St. Pius X/St. Leo, St. Cecilia, Holy Cross, Gilder Elementary, Kids Can Community Center, and the Omaha Community program.
League Format Notes
- No judging at ranking sessions — engineering notebooks and interviews are reserved for the championship
- Teams could miss one ranking session and still remain eligible for the League Championship
- The League Championship (with judging and awards) was scheduled for January 28th at Holy Cross
The first night was a tremendous success, and a great sign for what was shaping up to be an exciting inaugural league season.