Path to nationals: The story of O’Gorman Junior High’s FIRST LEGO League

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

FIRST LEGO League is not just about building robots; it’s a comprehensive test of innovation, teamwork and problem-solving skills. It introduces science, technology, engineering and math through fun and exciting hands-on learning.

Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. 

The O’Gorman Junior High club meets multiple times a week to get ready for the main event of the year: the FIRST LEGO League Championship. Teams from all over the country gather to showcase their abilities in various categories, each contributing to the overall championship score.

As teams delve into the competition, they are faced with challenges that push them to their limits, requiring them to excel not only in building and programming robots but also in innovation, embodying core values and presenting innovative solutions. The OGJH team placed second overall out of 28 teams at the FIRST LEGO League state competition in February.

Team members are Colby Dengler, Chris Van Bochove, Grayson Schuring, Conner Henriksen, Luke Bell, Liam Sweetman, Joe Kunz and David Jirik, and coaches are Dave Dengler, Jackie Henriksen and Joleen Schuring.

Competition experience: A balanced approach

In the FIRST LEGO League Championship, success isn’t determined by excelling in just one category but by achieving excellence across the board. With each of the four main categories — Innovation, Robot Design, Robot Game and Core Values — contributing equally to the overall championship score, teams must find a balance to secure victory.

In Robot Design and Robot Game categories, teams must meticulously plan, design, build and program their robots to tackle the challenges presented on the playing field. From identifying mission objectives to coding precise movements, every step is critical to success. 

“A major accomplishment this team had was the use of color sensors mounted on the robot that allowed the robot to move autonomously following a black line on the playing field, making movement more accurate and efficient,” Dengler said.

“Color sensors are rarely used by other teams because of the complexity of the code.” 

Using innovative approaches such as this set the OGJH team apart from their competition and demonstrated their engineering prowess. 

Core Values are among the other variables that play into the championship score. They are not just words but guiding principles that shape teams’ behavior and interactions throughout the competition. Emphasizing teamwork, inclusion, impact, fun, discovery and innovation, teams must embody these values in every aspect of their work, from collaboration to competition. 

Innovation: Solving real-world problems

The Innovation category challenges teams to address real-world problems creatively. This year’s theme — exploring how hobbies and interests can be shared creatively — prompted teams to devise innovative solutions.

“Our team’s focus was on a Ski With Me mobile application that would provide skiers the ability to sign up on the application and look for a skiing partner who may be of similar age, skill or possibly activity,” Dengler said.

“The team met with Great Bear Ski Valley to get ideas and thoughts and also sent out a survey to obtain feedback, with over 150 entries. The team created a mock-up in PowerPoint of all the pages of the mobile application and how it would interact and work.” 

The teamwork and use of all the core values put the OGJH team in the top three of the four categories.

“As coaches, we walked out of the judges session flabbergasted at their use of all the core values,” Dengler said. “Of course, we also were not surprised as these core values are the essence of the OGJH School and what they experience every day — a true testament of what the Bishop O’Gorman school system has to offer.”

Preparing for nationals: Perfecting performance

As the team gears up for the national competition in Long Beach, California, later this month, the focus shifts to perfecting and refining their solutions. For Robot Game, this entails maximizing efficiency and accuracy to complete all missions within the allotted time. Innovations, such as the Ski With Me app, undergo further development, with teams exploring options to make them a reality. 

“We’ll be looking to meet with application engineers to determine options to make it real, put it on a phone and actually be something we can use and show the judges at nationals on a mobile device,” Dengler said.

Behind every successful team are hours of dedicated practice and unwavering support. Weekly meetings and weekend sessions are filled with brainstorming, designing and testing. Coaches guide students through challenges, but it’s the students’ ingenuity and hard work that drive progress. 

Dengler became a coach because of his son’s early interest in LEGOS.

“This is my third year of watching these students’ minds evolve, grow, problem-solve, while enjoying things they love to do with others. The lightbulbs I’ve seen turn on are many,” he said.

From mastering core values to making strategic decisions during competition, each success is a testament to the team’s dedication and resilience.

More than building blocks 

Amid the intensity of competition, moments of triumph and humor shine through. From confidently reciting core values to making last-minute strategic changes during the Robot Game, each anecdote highlights the team’s spirit and camaraderie.

The FIRST LEGO League is more than just building robots; it’s a platform for young minds to innovate, collaborate and inspire. As teams navigate the challenges and triumphs of competition, they not only hone their technical skills but also cultivate values that will serve them well beyond the competition arena. With each competition, they prove that with creativity, teamwork and perseverance, anything is possible.