LaCrosse students named champs of regional robotics

Left to right, Cooper Schwartz, grade 3; Emily Thompson, grade 5; Chloe Waddell, grade 4; Wyatt Schwartz and Lillian McGregor, both grade 7.

A team of five LaCrosse elementary and junior high students were named regional champions at a robotics competition in Spokane on Saturday, Dec. 9. Coached by school science teacher, Matt Wysock, the team has been working since September in preparation for the contest. Team members include Lillian McGregor, Chloe Waddell, Emily Thompson, Wyatt Schwartz and Cooper Schwartz.

Competing against 35 other school and club teams in the First LEGO League contest at Salk Middle School in Spokane, the LaCrosse Tigercats finished in fifth place in the robotic games, but scored high enough in all other event categories to come out on top overall. The team will compete next at the Eastern Washington State Tournament at Eastern Washington University Jan. 13.

The First LEGO League competition was open to students ages nine through 14 and involves students and teams from 18 countries. The theme for this year’s contest is hydro dynamics. Based on the theme, the teams identify real-world problems, research and develop solutions and present their solutions to a set of judges.

Teams also build, test and program an autonomous robot using LEGO Mindstream technology. At the competitions the team ran their robot through a series of scored missions.

As they went through this work the teams operated under the FIRST LEGO League signature set of core values, celebrating discovery, teamwork and gracious professionalism.

For their Hydro Dynamics problem, the Tigercats worked on improving the design and operation of center-pivot irrigation systems. Using motors and a model system, they worked on a program that would change the speed of the machine as it went over parts of fields with varying water needs.

In announcing the team as winners, the emcee read the following statement about the LaCrosse five: “Down through the woods, out through the pasture, they’ll take you for a ride on their big green tractor. They can go slow, they can go faster, these cats are masters in all factors. Congratulations team #21049, the Tigercats.

This is the third year that students from LaCrosse have participated at the regional level of the First LEGO League robotics competition, and the second straight year that the local team has qualified for the state tournament.