Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

St. Paul Central students head to national robotics competition

St. Paul Central Minutebots robotic team
The St. Paul Central Minutebots robotic team at the 2014 regional competition.
Courtesy of St. Paul Public Schools

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Sixteen teams from Minnesota are joining thousands of high school students from 38 countries in St. Louis today for a national robotics competition.

The robotics section is one of three going simultaneously at the U.S. FIRST -- For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology -- event. The students will be using their robots to try to win points.

"This year, larger robots on fields half the size of basketball courts will battle it out by maneuvering exercise balls into goal areas," writes Elisa Crouch for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Smaller robots will compete by putting as many blocks as possible into plastic crates on top of pendulums."

This is the first time the Minutebots team from Central High School in St. Paul made it to nationals. The team coach and two student members joined The Daily Circuit ahead of the competition. They were on a bus on their way to St. Louis.

The team went from five active students last year in its first year of competition to up to 18 students this year, said coach Jon Lavik.

The team is primarily underclassmen, Lavik said, so their future is bright.

"We are aiming for a dynasty here," he said. "We've got some really good kids on the team... We're going to have a good run ahead of us."

St. Paul Central team highlights from regionals: