From left are Ryan Zorn, Jack Collins, Braxton Studebaker and Clay Kelsheimer. The four Wawasee Middle School students made up a robotics team placing second in the state competition. This photo was taken during a November competition at Grace College. Not all of the team members were available for photos following the competition Saturday. (Photo provided)

A robotics team from Wawasee Middle School took second place at a state competition of the First Lego League at IPFW in Fort Wayne Saturday.

The Wawasee “Fire Beetles” team made up of Braxton Studebaker, Jack Collins, Ryan Zorn and Clay Kelsheimer were given a trophy because of their robot’s innovative programming in the strategy and innovation category, noted coach Ryan Edgar, also a teacher at WMS.

A game table was set up with different challenges for each robotics team to face. The WMS team designed its robot to drop off EMS and a cargo truck to a safe zone. After that challenge, light sensors were used to detect a road and the robot followed the road into another mission.

Only two teams overall advanced past the state level. The WMS team did not perform well enough to advance further, but it was the first time for the school to advance to the state level.

A trophy built entirely of Legos was given to the Fire Beetles team. The team was one of two from WMS advancing to the state competition after competing Nov. 23 at Grace College. Wawasee’s second team, known as Wawasee Wild Fires, was made up of students Zac Avery, Zac Hunter, Carson Hunter and Shae Henn and did not place.

Members of all participating teams at Saturday’s competition were given medals.