News : Lego League: Two VSMS teams advance to State event

Two members of the Retro Recyclers control their Lego League machine during the course competition.

On to State: The Retro Recyclers Lego League team.

Clean-Up Crew members speak to one of the judges.

The Clean-Up Crew earned a spot in the State meet and had the highest course score.

The Vinton-Shellsburg Lego League teams did very well at the Regional competition in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, with two teams advancing to the State Competition. This is the first time a V-S team advanced to State.

The Clean Up Crew got two awards: High Points for Robot Mission and Project Award and earned a chance to compete in the State Competition.

Retro Recyclers were the Champs and are also going to State.

Parents praise first-year ELP teacher and Lego League advisor Jeff Mangold for his energy and creativity. He wore purple and blue headbands to support the Disco Ninjas team and during the weeks of preparation, brought in a mentor, engineer (and current VSMS Lego League mom) Susan Colsch, who has her own Lego League experience, to help advise the students.

VSMS team members included:

Clean Up Crew: Isaac Allsup, Keira Ott, Taylor Shipley, Lucy Howes-Vonstein, Josie Sagan, Elias Colsch, Javan Andrews, Ethan Rollinger, Maddison Atkinson, Emily Trinkle

Disco Ninjas: Elsa Page, Morgan Lang, Graham Henkle, Brynn Patterson, Tess Lillibridge, Jozee White, Natalie Armstrong, Leah Hendrickson

Retro Recyclers: Megan Hendrickson, Samantha Walton, Max Vasquez, Caroline Erickson, Kale Schulte, Kinzzy Miracle, Alex Guenther, Zena Aragon, Ella Hainey

Recycling Raiders: Charlie Dudley, Rylee Scheel, Carly Lang, Xander Dawson-Fink, Hunter Hazen, Taylor Lint, Raileigh Schulte, Lauren Hendryx (not pictured Lillie Lamont).

'Trash Trek' theme

Each year, the course has a special theme, with the robots carrying out missions related to that theme. This year's theme is Trash Trek, and the course and presentations deal with recycling and related issues. The State contest takes place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17, 2016, at the ISU campus in Ames. The VS students will compete on Jan. 17.

See more photos HERE.