03-05-2025
Norfolk Robotics team becomes world champions
NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU) — High school robotics has grown in popularity in recent years. Now, some teams are gaining respect for their skills not only nationally, but internationally, that's the case for one team from Norfolk.
The program has gained popularity in the Siouxland area since the Rebel Robotics team became world champions.
Officials with the Northeast Community College said the team competed at the First Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston, where they won the Inspire Award.
'This year we were second place in Nebraska. We moved on to the world championship where we managed to place first out of every single team in the world,' said Emmett Haake, the team captain and designer. 'It was a super exciting deal.'
'When they when they announced our name worldwide. It was just a surreal feeling. It's just something we've been working towards for so long,' said Nicholas Miller, the team's fundraiser.
'We've worked really hard, though, and I'm really proud of everybody,' said Braden Jensen, the team's fundraiser.
The team out performed over 9,000 other teams by having their robot complete a task in under three minutes.
'Our robot achieves that by we have this claw that has four different little fingers so the claw reaches way out into the pit, grabs the sample, and then it brings the sample back. And then this hand here is open. So released as a sample. Then right there, the hand is able to grab it, and then the hand is attached to a set of linear slides that are able to extend way up into the air and then deposit the sample into the basket,' said Haake.
The team said, there's so much more than robotics, adding, they participate to improve their skills needed later when they join the workforce.
'It's all about learning, and especially with the business. I never thought I'd be into business. And so getting to learn these skills to learn to talk in front of people comfortably is just something I've loved doing,' said Miller.
'There's aspects for everybody. There's finding mentors. There's fundraising there's robot building. There's programing. There's something for everybody,' said Jensen
With their recent win, the team from Norfolk becomes the United States lone entry in another international competition, coming up in October of 2025.
'In a competition called, 'First Global' where every single country will be sending one team to compete down in Panama City. So we're incredibly excited about that. Super excited to be here representing the entire country from Norfolk, Nebraska,' said Haake.
For more information on the team and how to join, click here.
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