Libby's new robotics team headed to state
Libby High School has a robotics team and the limit is only one’s imagination.
While schools across the country have had teams for years, the Loggers joined in when they put a team together in October.
Renee Rose, a science teacher at the high school who was helped with the team, said state champion Eureka robotics coach Rob Reynolds had wanted Libby to get involved.
“Rob and their teams took us under their wings,” Rose said. “They came down and showed us how to build and guided us through the process.”
Friday morning, Eureka and Libby students in grades 7-12 will be among several teams competing in the First Tech Challenge at Montana State University’s Shroyer Gym.
The opening ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. with a qualification round beginning at 11 a.m. Teams which qualify for the championship matches will compete from 4:40 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The event can be seen on a livestream at www.youtube.com/@mtra-stream.
The Loggers are led by coach Rodd Zeiler, who teaches math at the high school.
His team includes Ashley Cockerham, Jacob Dirks, Jared Iliff, Brooklyn Bilbrey, Cloe Stedman, Teague Thompson, Justin Weibelhaus and Addison Skranak.
Cockerham said she loves being in robotics.
“I really enjoy this and it’s quite a bit of fun, too,” Cockerham said. “It’s great being part of a team and a sport where other teams help newcomers learn.”
Rose said part of the robotics culture is to spread knowledge and work with other teams.
“Not that the kids don’t get competitive and want to win, but teamwork is a bigger part of it. The kids are encouraging each other and it’s about getting your robot to work well and do what you want it to,” Rose said. “Problem solving is also a big part of it.”
She added that for students learning how to use robotics there are many future career possibilities.
“There are uses in building prosthetics and they are doctors performing long-distance surgeries using robots,” Rose said. “It’s possible for doctors in New York City to do a surgery on a patient in Kalispell.”
The team said it is working on fund raising now to help support future endeavors.
