Robotics Team Wins State, Headed to World Robotics Championship
Author: Roger Flynn
Roger Flynn
The Broadwater Brainiacs robotics team took first place at the Montana State Robotics Competition on Saturday, Feb. 7, earning the chance to represent Montana at the World Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas, this spring.
The Brainiacs are part of Broadwater Robotics, supported by STOKE, a local nonprofit that provides students with hands-on opportunities to explore STEAM (activities, outdoor adventures and other free educational programs for Townsend youth.
The Brainiacs competed against 35 other teams at the state competition at Montana State University after advancing through one of four qualifying tournaments held across the state. In total, more than 100 teams competed statewide, and the Brainiacs finished on top with the highest combined score. That score includes robot design, innovation presentation, core values and the robot game itself—meaning the team had to perform well in every part of the competition. It was a high-energy day of judging, robot matches and teamwork, culminating in the awards ceremony.
This year’s theme was archaeology, and the Brainiacs’ innovation project focused on better ways to document stone features. The team researched real-world challenges, including meeting with professional archaeologists, among them team mentor and archaeologist Jim Strait, and presented ideas on how technology could help preserve and record those important sites.
Team member Andrew Beatty said the moment they realized they had won came as a surprise.
“It was fun, but more like exciting. No one on the team realized we had done that well until right at the last,” he said. He credited their success to “all that hard work, meeting every day and practicing.”
Coach Spencer Sellay said the win shows what happens when a youth program grows over time.
“These programs are student-driven. We start them in elementary school with learning and competition. Now those kids have moved up to middle school. This is the first year we have a sustaining program,” he said.
Sellay also praised the judging at the state event.
“The judging was outstanding. They were a broad swath of MSU professors—archaeology, computer science and many others with an interest in robotics.”
The Broadwater Brainiacs will travel to Houston on April 29 to compete against more than 160 middle school teams from across the United States and around the world.
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PhotoCredit: Roger Flynn
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater Brainiacs celebrate their first-place trophy for winning the state robotics competition. From left to right: Coach Jim Strait, Sky Sellay, Coach Bobbie McCauley, Courtney Webber, Kathryn Six, Everett Kirksey, Andrew Beatty, MSU mascot Champ, Erilyn Strait, Titus Kirksey, Karter Schmaus, Jayden Flynn, Coach Spencer Sellay, Coach Dr. Lisa Brown, mentor Max Sellay, Coach Jessica Crusch, Coach Roger Flynn. (Not pictured: Coach Dr. Adam Six)
Photo Credit: Roger Flynn
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Image 2 Caption: Erilyn Strait and Andrew Beatty operate their LEGO robot in competition as teammates look on.
Photo Credit: Roger Flynn
Image 3 Caption: Brainiacs team members prepare for their innovation presentation on a new approach to documenting stone features
Photo Credit: Roger Flynn
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