Building underwater robots was no match for Wareham Middle School's Junior Engineering Club, which impressed judges late last month at the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center's ROV Competition at Mass. Maritime Academy.

Eighteen students on four teams representing grades 6, 7, and 8 attended the competition. Each team was charged with building its own underwater robot, wiring a control box, and designing a vehicle to complete very specific missions that simulated real-world underwater research.

Wareham Middle's "Undersea Pirates" -- Jonathan McCarthy, Ethan Osley, Leeannah Thomas, Nick Dix, Shaez Gomes, and Taylah Messia -- placed second in accomplishing the overall mission.

Club advisors Terri Carde and Julie Walker said each team found success in completing different parts of the mission, and they "couldn't be more proud of the effort, commitment, and perseverance put forth by each team."