The Becker School District began a new venture with robotics teams in Grades 4-9 this year, offering younger students the same opportunities that the BHS Robotics Team has been experiencing in First Robotics® events for the last three years. The initial response has been “overwhelming”, according to Coach Alex Jurek.
"We thought that we could start with a FIRST® LEGO team in the Intermediate and FIRST Tech Challenge teams in the Middle School and High School. When the registrations started to pour in, we were not prepared for that level of interest from the community," Jurek said.
The program only had enough spots reserved to fill three teams in two categories, and the way that the FIRST organizes teams and tournaments; Becker was only allowed those six teams and no more.
"That was a huge problem, Jurek said. “We only had 30 spots for kids in Grades 4-6 and 45 for kids in Grades 7-12. If we had known about the interest early on, we could have registered more teams, but it just exploded!"
All of the FIRST teams met last Thursday night in the BHS Performing Arts Center for a “meet and greet” and a presentation on the history of robotics at Becker. Each of the teams introduced their advancements thus far and shared what their plans were for the season. Becker Robotics Booster Club President Russ Girtz talked about how the club operates, and he invited the teams up onto the stage to showcase the impact of the FIRST organization in Becker.
The next Becker Robotics Booster Club meeting will take place on Mon. Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Crossings Hotel by Grandstay in Becker. "We want to bring in the mentors and parents of area robotics teams so that we can better serve the teams," Girtz said.
Local Sponsors
"When we started to talk about a robotics team in Becker, Sherco was the first to sign on, Jurek said. “I was thinking that we would start a team in two years or so, but the leaders at Sherco made it clear that we would start a team immediately. That was four year ago, and look what has happened,” Jurek said.
Without the likes of Sherco, LPI, Darter Plastics, the Clear Lake Lions, and so many others, none of this would be possible, Jurek said. Becker Furniture World was instrumental in helping our FIRST Robotics team develop a training space. Midcontinent Communications, SEH, and Sherburne State Bank have also been on board since the beginning, and without these sponsors and so many others, none of these opportunities would be possible,” Jurek said.
The Becker Robotics teams are planning a Robotics Showcase in the spring of 2016 to thank the sponsors that made all of this possible. Next year the registration dates are planned for July so that the program can make certain all students interested get a chance to compete on a FIRST Robotics team, Jurek said.
