Two Arenas x Two Regional Competitions=Complete “Lunacy”!

The first inaugural double Minnesota regional, held April 2nd to 4th , 2009,  was a huge success! Combined, the two separate-but-equal FIRST regional competitions drew 102 teams to the University of Minnesota campus for three days of learning and excitement. And in this case, more was certainly better! Though many of the teams attending the North Star and 10,000 Lakes Regionals were rookies, the level of competition was top notch, and the experience was a great one for all involved!

At North Star, in Mariucci Arena, a truly fearsome alliance made up of Team 79-Krunch, Tarpon Springs, Florida; Team 2970-Kenosha, WI, and Team 2549-Millerbots, Washburn High School, Minneapolis became the winners, beating an alliance of Team 1816-The Green Machine, Edina, Minn; Team 2472-Centennial Sr. High School, Circle Pines, Minn; and Team 2418-Minot, N. D. Also, fellow Minnesota team 2169- King TeC, Prior Lake, won the Chairman’s Award, which earns them a trip to the Championships April 16 – 18 in Atlanta, GA. Team 2220- Blue Twilight, Eagan, also earned a trip to Atlanta, by winning the Engineering Inspiration Award.  Plus. Team 2549-Washburn High School, Minneapolis, was also featured in the local U-M newspaper (http://www.mndaily.com/2009/04/0 5/u-mentored-robotics-team-winner).

Across the street in Williams Arena at the 10,000 Lakes Regional, competition was no less heated. Rookie Team 2826- Kenosha, WI, led an alliance of Teams 1714- Milwaukee, WI, and Team 2470- Bloomington Jefferson High School, Bloomington, Minn; sweeping the competition. They had to overcome a strong all Minnesota alliance in the finals to do it though, as rookie teams Team 2846- Roseville Area High School, and Team 2825- Vadnais Heights, joined with veteran Team 2177-Convent of the Visitation High School, Mendota Heights, to put up a strong fight. The Chairman’s Award went to Team 1986- Lee's Summit, MO, while Team 2500-Patrick Henry High School, Minneapolis, in its second year, took the 10,000 Lakes Regional Engineering Inspiration Award.

Congratulations to every team that helped make the two new Regionals a ton of fun! And for all those Minnesota FIRST teams that made it to Atlanta (Teams 2169, 2220, 2470, 2500 and 2549), good luck at the Championships. We’re expecting great results!