The Mound Westonka Tonkabots FIRST Robotics Team took its largest team to date to the Northern Lights Competition last week in Duluth. The Tonkabots had 38 students in grades 9-12 participate in the team event, which was held March 2-4 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

The FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. The competition inspires innovation and leadership by teaching STEM, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through engaging, hands-on robotics challenges. Teams of 10 or more students are challenged to design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program a 120-pound robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors.

“Although we didn’t place where we would have liked, we are very happy with how our team and our robot performed,” said advisor Dale Kimball. “This year’s robot was the best one we have ever built – it was able to do every objective of the game.”

The team’s lone senior, Ashton Demmer, was one of the team’s captains and the lead programmer in his final season. “He will be missed,” said Kimball.

To learn more about FIRST Robotics, visit www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc.