BurgBots head to state championship

WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team BurgBots has advanced to the State Championship.

BurgBots crushed the competition at the Sargasso Sea League Tournament at Iowa City West High School Feb. 1, said the team’s coach, Krystle Stehno.

During the qualification matches, BurgBots was undefeated, earning the top rank in the league.

This allowed BurgBots the first pick during alliance selection for the playoff matches. They graciously invited team DeDuckTive Thinkers from Solon to be their alliance partner, said Stehno.

During playoff matches, BurgBots continued its undefeated streak, and the team was named Winning Alliance-Captain.

The team also earned the Innovate Award sponsored by RTX, and team member Dylan Gudenkauf, a sophomore, earned a place as a dean's list semi-finalist. Dean's list finalists will be announced at the Iowa Championship.

Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18, the organization says.

FIRST Tech Challenge provides high school students with the opportunity to design, build and program robots and compete against other teams. The competition involves earning points and forming alliances. The robot itself is only one part of the learning experience.

The public is invited to watch BurgBots compete during the FIRST Tech Challenge Iowa Championship Friday, Feb. 28, from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Xtream Arena and GreenState Family Fieldhouse, 200 E. Ninth St. in Coralville.

The event is free and will bring together the best 72 teams in Iowa. Stehno said she expects some records to be broken.

The game for 2024-25 is “Into the Deep.” The game is played on a 12-foot-square playing field with a foam floor and walls. A “submersible” structure is in the center with low and high rungs and chambers. Low and high baskets are located at each corner of the playing field.

Robots earn points by placing colored blocks in various places in the playing field.

FIRST builds science, technology, engineering and math skills, but it also requires competitors to engage in outreach and fundraising, to connect with businesses in their community and to collaborate with other teams during competitions, the organization says.

FTC is designed to inspire and increase interest in STEM fields through hands-on experience with robotics. It offers students the chance to build experience and confidence with complex STEM-based concepts, document the engineering design process, develop problem-solving and team-building skills, enhance their public speaking abilities, and compete in alliances during tournaments.

FIRST Tech Challenge enables high school students, including those from rural communities, to solve real-world challenges and offers a life-changing experience to help students realize that a STEM career is feasible.