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Competition is next step for first Luverne High School robotics team

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

With $9,900 in hand, the Luverne High School robotics team is setting its sights on the first competition in late February.
Adviser Aaron Perkins and students hosted the team’s first parent information meeting Jan. 8 with an eye on the calendar.
“We have 51 days and this is Day 2,” he said. “We have a lot of work.”
First on the work docket is for the 25-member team to build the 125- pound robot.
“Our initial role is to play defense,” Perkins said.
The robotic competition requires Luverne to pair with two other high school teams on the 26-by-52-foot playing field. They will work together to achieve various robotic tasks around the Star Wars-themed field against three other teams.
Luverne hopes to get in the way of the other teams’ robotic maneuvers as Luverne’s more experienced partners can more easily move their robots through various tasks to earn points.
To prepare, local students have been divided into five teams of five, each assigned a different task to get the robot up and running.
 “We are just doing what needs to be done,” said senior Martin Anderson.
And there is a lot to do.
Senior Melanie Rittenhouse said she likes the variety of science, technology, engineering and math skills robotics offers for students to experience.
“Having that knowledge is great because it can be applied to other things,” she said.
Rittenhouse worked on the team’s website, www.frc8298.com.
The site outlines sponsors, team members, mentors, outreach, and safety messages the team is required to complete.
They selected a memorable name — Mighty Morphing Banana Slugs — for their team identity.
With the robot and assorted equipment purchased, fundraising continues for the fledging robotics program.
The $9,900 represents about half of the $20,000 the program needs for upcoming entry fees, hotel and travel expenses.
Students are focused on their first competition in Grand Forks, North Dakota, but adviser Perkins and assistant Randy Berghorst challenged them to also reach for “Best Rookie Team” at the Minnesota FIRST Robotics State Championship in May.
The Best Rookie Team goes on to a national competition. There are currently three rookie teams for the 2020 season.
“I would love it if we had that opportunity,” Perkins said.

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