SwampBots Earn Spot in Regional Competition

HIGH SPRINGS – In just their second season, the High Springs SwampBots (Team Frogman) came in third place out of 32 teams at the Lego League Panther Prowl Qualifier at Palatka High School on Saturday, Feb. 5. “This is a remarkable feat for local coaches and participants,” said High Springs Parks and Recreation Director Damon Messina.

The objective of SwampBots is to have robots, which are built by the teams, do runs for a period of time. “This is another avenue for children to express themselves creatively,” said Messina. “It’s not only children building robots, but also robots building children.”

There are several teams in Alachua County, and two of those teams are from High Springs and Alachua that partner with the City of High Springs Parks and Recreation Department. Each team consists of eight to 10 kids. The teams practice two to three times a week in the multi-purpose rooms of the old school building behind City Hall. The season is August to February/March each year. Children from fourth to eighth grades are eligible to participate free of charge.

The organization is funded by a grant from the Alachua County Children’s Trust. All funds go toward the registrations, programming, equipment (Lego robotic set), computers, coaches’ stipend, league and tournament fees.

Based on the third-place results, the teams may go on to play in a Southeast Regional competition. Messina said he is grateful to the Alachua County Children’s Trust for their consistent contribution, to President of SwampBots, Ben Sanders for his dedication to the program, and to the High Springs Parks and Recreation Board for advocating the program.

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