The RedNeks went on to a 9-1 record and earned the top three scores in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge state championship Friday on the MSU Bozeman campus. A sister team of 8th graders had a good day too, finishing the day as part of the runner up alliance.
Thirty six teams from Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming qualified in
either November or December events to participate in the day-long
championship event.
Montana gets to forward two teams to the Houston World Championship in
April and by virtue of being the captain of the winning Alliance, the
team, with members from Fairfield, Simms and homeschoolers will
represent Montana for the 6th time, and the 5th time in the last 6
years. They will compete against 159 other teams from the West and
Southern US, plus about 10 other countries. There is a parallel
championship in Detroit where the best 160 teams from the East and
Midwest, plus a different 10 countries will participate. These 320
teams will come from nearly 6000 teams worldwide. There is no pressure
at all on the team to do well, since 4 of the previous trips, have found
the team in the championship round...where the team has won three times!!!