Latest news with #WorldCompetition
CBS News
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
U of M dance team draws 4,500+ to Williams Arena for World Competition send-off
WCCO brought you exclusive coverage of the University of Minnesota dance team winning their 23rd national championship in January. Now, they've been selected to represent Team USA at the ICU World championships. It's a rare opportunity for the Gopher dance team to dance as the U.S. National Team. This the third time the program has had the opportunity to dance at this level, the last time being 2014. "Going to that next level and representing the United States is truly an honor," said Emily Jeffcoat, U of M dancer. "Getting to experience that and seeing dance from all over the world come to one place is something I'm so excited for," said Maddy Vercelli, U of M dancer. The U of M dance team put together and entirely new jazz routine for this world competition, one with more grit and intensity, that they performed in front of a crowd on Saturday at Williams Arena. They closed out the showcase send-off with their pom routine, which they will also be competing at Worlds. It is the same routine that won a national championship earlier this year, but they took it up a notch from what got them gold. "I would say it taught us a lot about how we can elevate more as athletes," said Jeffcoat. U of M Spirit Squad head coach and program director, Amanda Gaines, said she expected around 1,000 people to show up to watch them perform before leaving to compete, but to her surprise more than 4,500 tickets were sold. "It just shows that the Minnesota dance community continues to show up and support," said Gaines. These ticket sales benefit this team in a big way as a fundraiser for the program. "There are travel costs, costume costs, apparel costs, that come with that, so these ticket sales are really going to offset all the costs that come with representing the U.S. National team, so it takes that burden off of the athletes," said Gaines. It's a special moment for the dancers to get the recognition, and to see how much the support has grown over the years. After the performances, kids rushed the court for autographs and pictures with the U.S. National team members. "It's just gratitude fully. We're just grateful for all the support," said Vercelli. Part of performing for the dance community is also including them. The U of M dance team invited 20 local dance studios to show their routines as well. "They brought such a big audience, for not just them, but every single dancer, and it makes us feel more important and more seen," said Sophie Helgeson, dancer at Dance Arts Centre in Chanhassen. The U of M dance team leaves for Orlando, Florida in a few days to compete at the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Competition April 23-25.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
FIRST Robotics Competitions brings crowds to Alerus Center despite the weather
Mar. 15—GRAND FORKS — Robotics teams and their fans came out in force to the Alerus Center for the FIRST Robotics Competition's eighth Great Northern Regional Saturday, despite chilly temperatures and inclement weather. The competition was held March 12-15 in Grand Forks with 53 registered teams from Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa competing. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has several regional competitions across the region. Friends, family and teammates filled the Alerus Center with their presence, cheering for their teams as points were scored. Minus the event director and two organizers, the event is run by 153 volunteers. "Everyone who's here is a volunteer, which is amazing. Our army shows up to run this event," FIRST Regional Director Nicole Schossow said. The schedule of the event had been adjusted due to the prospect of snow, ice and difficult travel conditions. Despite that, crowds, teams and mentors still were in attendance, showing support for the competition. High school student teams compete; those who win the competition and or win awards are eligible to go to the World Competition in Houston later this year. The students build robots from scratch, including machining their own parts, programming and designing. Not including competition costs, the robots can have $10,000 to $30,000 of work and material put into them. "You learn so many skills," Mady Arnesen, an event student ambassador and member of Team FRED (FIRST Robotics Engineering and Design), also known as Team 2883, from Warroad, Minnesota. "There's programming, (robot) design, graphic designing, 3D printing and even workshop skills." This year's competition game was named "REEFSCAPE," which is ocean-themed and encouraged teams to think about advancing aquatic life and undersea exploration. Two alliances of three teams competed to put coral, akin to PVC pipe, on the reef structure and collect algae, which are balls, to place on a barge structure in the center. Each round lasted around two and a half minutes. The alliance that scored the most points won. "The higher up on the reef, the more points it's worth," Arensen said. Because of the many points able to be scored by placing coral, many of the robots focused on a coral point strategy, she said. Collecting algae was worth more per algae placed in the barge. It also took longer than the coral. The teams first competed in qualification rounds for ranking. Once ranking occurred, teams selected alliances for playoff matches. Before competing, the robots are inspected to make sure they meet requirements for safety, weight and systems. A common issue is a battery disconnecting during the rigors of a match. "The main thing we want is we want (teams to be able to compete)," Tom Beadle, a mentor and competition inspector, said. "You don't want to break down, so we go through all the stuff and then check and sign off." This isn't the last regional competition. There are several occurring throughout the next several weeks as well as the next one at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, March 26-29.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Breaking Through: Southland team wins school's first state robotics title
Mar. 7—Deemed by many as being one of the best programs in the state of Minnesota, Southland High School robotics program members have been waiting for a long time for one thing — a state title. That changed this past weekend. The Avalanche, consisting of team captain Micah Johnson, Liliana Johnson, Nolan Kiefer and Cameron Bryan and allying with a team from Mankato West, claimed the Minnesota State Vex Robotics Competition that handed them their first-ever state championship. While Southland teams have enjoyed several high finishes in the past, including claiming second place numerous times, this is the first state championship for the program. "It felt really nice after seeing all of the hard work the kids put in finally pay off and they were finally able to get the state championship they were seeking," said program coach Paul Mortenson. The win came with some dramatics. Not only did the Avalanche have to beat a fellow Southland team in the semifinals to reach the championship, but the state title came on what would be the equivalent of a buzzer-beater in basketball. After losing the first of three in the title series, Southland won the second and then put the contest away in the third match when they were able to score points in the final seconds. "It's really important to us," said Micah, a senior who has been active in robotics since fourth grade. "For nine years we've been reaching toward winning a state championship." Micah added that the success this year has foundations in the work of teams prior to this, who despite getting close on a number of occasions couldn't quite cross the final finish line. "They really led the way and paved it for us so we could do it," he said. "It really means a lot to us. We've put in all of this work and we finally get to hold up that state championship and say we're the winners." While the state championship took center stage, the weekend as a whole proved to be a success. Along with the Avalanche, three other Southland High School teams earned spots at the World Competition May 6-8 in Dallas, Texas. They included the Blaze, Borderbots and the Boltbots. A middle school team also qualified, but won't be making the trip this year. Taken all together, it continues a strong tradition for the Southland program that many in the state point to as an excelling example of what a program should look like. "It just continues to say we have amazing kids and they are willing to put in the time," Mortenson said. "We're so fortunate that the lab is connected to a classroom. They are here all the time before school, during school and after school. They are excited about it and that competition. Every year the kids get better and better." And now the teams will go back to work as they prepare for the May competition in Dallas. They will continue to work on those things that got them this far, but they will also take the opportunity afforded to them to work on their own individual skills. Like her brother, Liliana, a sophomore, has been in robotics since fourth grade and she is seeing these next steps as a chance to work on her skills to better the team. "I want to keep working on my documentation skills and being able to communicate better with the teams and work on team work and time management," she said. All of these things that Liliana, Micah and the others display are the benefits of a strong robotics program, something Mortenson advocates for in other schools. "We want to see this in every school," she said. "We see what this is doing for our students and if there is anybody interested in starting a team, reach out to us. There is a network of coaches that really believe in what this is doing for kids. We are so ready to help other people to offer this in other schools." World Qualified Teams Avalanche Micah Johnson-captain Liliana Johnson Nolan Kiefer Cameron Bryan Blaze Wayland Gray — Captain Adelyn Kiefer Abe Phillips Borderbots Kaden Helgeson — Captain Kevin Garey Erika Hollerurd Landon Clement Boltbots Isai Garcia-Mendoze — Captain James Heimer Zeke Phillips Houston Hill
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Special Olympics Minnesota downhill skier is "going for gold" in the World Winter Games
A Minnesota skier is on her way to the world stage next month. Bethany Mussell downhill skis with Special Olympics, and she's worked hard enough on the Minnesota hills to now have a chance to go for gold in the Italian Alps. For the last 15 years she's been training to be her very best at skiing, which earned her a spot competing on the world stage, but getting here didn't come easy. "When I get nervous, I usually tell myself to take some deep breaths," Mussell said. Thanks to her many Special Olympics coaches, like Berit Dussault, she's learned to master the slalom. "Berit helps me with ski techniques, like learning how to bend my knees and turn a little more," Mussell said. "With Special Olympics, it's hard to ski when you have special needs, and she's had a great attitude throughout the whole thing," Dussault said. Last season, Mussell raced her way to a gold medal at the State Ski Meet on Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls. This moment opened the door for her to compete internationally. "This was my last practice before Italy," Mussell said on Sunday morning after getting in her final tracks at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, before heading to Turin, Italy to compete in the Special Olympic Winter games. "It felt really wonderful. I loved it. I'm very excited, but very nervous." Mussell will compete in three events: slalom, giant slalom and Super G. Her coaches are confident she'll find even more success at the World Competition. "I think she's going to do amazing, but I think she's going to have fun overall and that's the best part of it," Dussault said. Mussell is now 41 years old, accomplishing big things after picking up the sport later in life. She hopes her story inspires other athletes to do the same. "My message to others: keep doing what you're doing, work on your skills and be confident in yourself," Mussell said. The Special Olympics World Winter Games start on March 8 with more than 1,500 athletes competing.
