LI FIRST Robotics Team Compete in First Event of the Season

Over March 13–15, 2026, the LI FIRST Robotics Team (Vikingbot, Team 10138) traveled to Bedford, New Hampshire, to compete in their first event of the season - the NE District Granite State competition. The team represented Lyndon Institute with distinction: Flower Keza '26, Elijah Greiter and Juan Torres '28, and Cora Stanley, Emmett Patoine, Cosimo Franklin, and Boston Moore '29, guided by advisors Dr. Paul Benoit (Science) and Justin Luke (Manufacturing).

Having begun construction and programming in January, this competition marked the robot's first true test under match conditions. In just their second year competing, Vikingbot demonstrated remarkable consistency and earned recognition as a reliable and valuable alliance partner among teams from across New England.

There were several highlights worth celebrating. Flower and Boston joined fellow robot builders in a memorable rendition of the national anthem. Elijah and Flower developed autonomous code that reliably scored points without any driver input. And the robot weathered a grueling series of matches - including collisions with walls and opposing robots - performing admirably from round to round. We couldn't be prouder of this team's growth, grit, and collaborative spirit. Go Vikingbot!