With their Impact Award win at the Lake Superior Regional in Duluth, MN last weekend, Becker Robotics has once again punched their ticket to the World Championships to be held in Houston from April 14-19.

It’s the team’s ninth trip to the grand event where teams from literally across the globe come to compete for the world title.  FIRST robotics, which has been dubbed as the “varsity sport for the mind,” includes the organization’s FRC, or First Robotics Competition.  The team’s success in branding their 4607 team (the random number assigned to the team when it began in 2013) has led to a level of notoriety where its hexagonal logo is recognized by teams, fans, judges and sponsors as a model of greatness.

The Impact Award is recognized at Regional events for the team that has the “most significant measurable impact over a sustained period of time.”  FRC 4607’s reach and impact is unmatched in the five state region, and ranks among the best nationally and across the world.

Becker’s robot this year is named “Riptide” and the team is currently ranked number one in Minnesota and sixth globally after the beginning of the competition season.

In addition to their prowess on the robotics field of competition, Becker has also drawn national attention for their Jumpstart training event, which reaches thousands of students across the United States with training events at St. Cloud State University, North Dakota State University, Minneapolis, Boston, Denver and Phoenix.  What started as a small event hosted by the team is now the world’s largest robotics team training event.

In match play in Duluth, the team went 7-2 in the qualification matches and ended up as the Alliance Captain for the #6 alliance.  Becker excelled in all areas of the competition except the final climb portion of the event, which gives the team a few weeks to work on that aspect of the robot.

Because of the Impact Award win, Becker advances for their fourth straight world championship appearance, putting them among the top one percent of all robotics teams.

Becker still has appearances coming up at Regional events on March 29 at Phantom Lakes in Wisconsin, which will be the last time they can compete in Wisconsin before that state switches to a district format for the 2026 competition season.

Becker will also again play host to the Granite City Regional, held in St. Cloud on the final Regional competition weekend at the beginning of April.

With the three Regional appearances and the trip to Houston, the team is again planning a series of fundraisers to offset the immense cost of competing at such an advanced level.

The annual spaghetti feed will be held at the high school on April 10, along with a craft and bake sale.

Head Coach Alex Jurek announced that the squad will also be running its very popular water softener salt fundraiser in the near future.

Becker’s team has a long history of dedicated coaches and mentors who help guide the process and offer expertise, but also require that the students are the ones to make decisions and “do the work.”

The network of sponsors are also a mix of local, state and national organizations who promote STEM education and the opportunity for students to learn state-of-the-art skills that are directly applicable in the workforce, military or collegiate setting.

The 2025 team sponsors include: The Department of Defense, Liberty Paper Inc., Valley - Grand Irrigation, Clear Lake Lions, Clearwater Lions, Amax Manufacturing Inc, JC Signs, Lanzer Systems, Becker Lions, Delta ModTech, PMMI, UMC, Knights of Columbus, Hubbard Electric, McDonald’s Meats, Darter Plastics, Pizza Depot, JJJ Construction, Saint Cloud State University, Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association, Sherburne State Bank, Santiago Lions, Dahlheimer Beverages, Lutgen Companies, EMR, Grede Foundry, Lommel Photography, Becker American Legion, Buhler Companies, Country Lumber, TJ Potter Trucking, Inc., Becker Warehouse and Reload, Viking Coca-Cola, Charlie’s Bar and Grill, Becker Robotics Booster Club and Becker High School.

Team members include: Eli Bring, Emmett Bring, Myles Brown, Sean Geurkink, Cole Haus, Zach Henkemeyer, Tristan Hodges, Makayla Hoefs, Landon Jurek, Evan Kempin, Mason Koep, Jacob Kurhajetz, Jacob Lauzer, Dylan Lietha, Collin Lietha, Deacon Martin, Brayden Martin, Mark Middleton, Noah Nielsen, Charlotte Northenscold, Cam Northenscold, Kiersten Sarazin, Isabelle Stich, Eric Sura, Aliyah Szabla, Kiersten Thompson, Lauren Tople, Kaylee Waters, and Ian Wentland.