Gogebic Range Robotics Team hosts pancake breakfast

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Wakefield - Running a robotics team can be expensive; and to help with costs, Gogebic Range Robotics Team 6613 held a pancake breakfast Sunday at the Wakefield VFW.

The money raised at the event helps cover the team's operating expenses, Hurley senior Eli Harma said, which include travels costs and tournament entry fees.

Now in its second year, the team is made up from schools across the Gogebic Range.

Harma said he joined the team after a broken bone prevented him from playing basketball, and is almost glad he got hurt as he enjoys the team so much.

"It's something I like to do, I like to tinker," Harma said.

Each year, the team is tasked with building a robot to complete one or more objectives to score more points than the opposing team.

Harma said this year's challenge has the teams build a robot that is able to maneuver cubes to different heights to give the teams control of a scale.

The team competed two weeks ago in Duluth, advancing to the quarter-finals before being eliminated. It will compete again in a tournament in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in the beginning of April.

Harma also thanked the team's sponsors and those who have supported the team.

"All our sponsors help us out a lot, if we didn't have them we wouldn't be able to (compete)," he said.