SOUTH PORTLAND — The South Portland High School robotics team is heading to the annual FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis, Mo., in April after winning the regional competition last weekend.

Two Maine robotics teams performed well in the 2012 BAE Systems Granite State Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in Manchester, N.H., Thursday through Saturday.

The South Portland team won the competition as part of an alliance that included teams from Manchester and Gilford, N.H., said Steve Martin, a Fairchild Semiconductor engineer and team mentor.

Fairchild Semiconductor sponsored six Maine teams at the regional challenge, which is designed to foster knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering and innovation.

In the coming weeks, South Portland’s Riot Crew will be working to raise as much as $30,000 to cover airfare, hotel and other expenses at the international competition April 25-28. Call 775-8533 to make a donation.

The South Portland team, coached by Bob Libby, also won the Xerox Creativity Award and one of its mentors, Ralph Newell, won the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award, Martin said.

The Bonny Eagle High School team won the Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award.

The Falmouth-Gorham high schools team transported all six Maine robots to the competition using its trailer, Martin said.

Other Maine teams that participated in the regional challenge included the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Traip Academy in Kittery and Sanford Technical Center.

 

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