Minnesota Robotics Team Breaks 20-Year Scoring Record at State

The Sartell-St. Stephen robotics team didn't just win the Minnesota State High School League championship on May 16. They rewrote the record books.

Competing alongside partners from ROCORI and Pequot Lakes, the alliance captured the state title with the highest-scoring match in Minnesota's 20-plus year robotics history. Their winning score of 672 to 665 broke records that had stood since the program's earliest days.

The numbers tell an incredible story of precision and skill. In their best performance, Sartell's robot launched 346 balls in just 110 seconds. That feat places them among the top 1% of robotics teams worldwide, a remarkable achievement for a program celebrating only its 10th year.

The championship run looked impossible on paper. Sartell finished state competition with a 9-3 record, including five upset victories where they were projected to lose by more than 60 points. Head coach Ryan Swanson credits smart strategy and flawless execution for turning the odds in their favor.

This season marked the team's fourth event win in four consecutive years. They also earned alliance captain status and ranked in the top three at every local event this season, a distinction they had achieved only once before in their entire program history.

Why This Inspires

Behind these statistics are years of patience and dedication from students and mentors who believed in building something special. Coach Swanson calls the championship "the culmination of years of program building and hard work from numerous students and mentors."

Ten years ago, this program was just starting. Today, these students are competing at world-class levels, proving what happens when communities invest in young people's passion for science and technology. They're not just building robots. They're building confidence, problem-solving skills, and dreams that reach far beyond their Minnesota hometown.

The victory shows other small programs across the country that size doesn't determine success. With the right support and determination, any team can rise to the top.

These Minnesota students just showed the world what they're capable of.