The LSW Robotics team won their first competition on Saturday, Jan. 25 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, qualifying them for Nationals. 

After months of hard work, dedication, and late nights, the team was able to see a victory. At the last tournament, their score ranked them in the top 100 in the world.

“On normal days, we stay after school until 6 or 7 and on competition days, it’s usually until 9 or 10,” junior Abdullah Noma said. “We were really proud to win. It’s always been our dream to make it to the higher leagues.”

The team has spent countless hours strategizing and building and has already built two robots this season.

“We went to the first couple competitions with our first robot and then over winter break, they built another one in three weeks,” Mr. Jeff Jochum said. “They were up until 4 o’clock almost every morning over break. It is a great combination of problem solving, engineering, teamwork.”

The robotics challenges are based on strategy and the solution is entirely open-ended and up to the team.

“What excites me is every day you get to dictate how the robot works. It’s completely hands on,” junior Ali Keshk said. “Everything we do is innovative and based on engineering and creativity.”

Many members have long been interested in aspects of building, programming, and engineering. Now they have a chance to contribute their interests skills into a successful and dedicated group of students.

“I’ve been into building stuff since I was little,” junior Leandro Castellanos Izaguirre said. “When I got into high school, I saw there was a robotics class. I finished the class and then entered the club. My favorite experience is working with the team.”

Throughout the season, the Robotics club travels across the midwest. 20,000 teams from around the world are competing in similar competitions for a potential spot in the World’s competition.

The team receives a new challenge each year. It is released by the company, VEX, at the annual World’s competition in April for the following year. Every team must then program and build a robot to most efficiently complete the challenge.

Their next tournament is this Friday Feb. 7 and Saturday Feb. 8.