Cannon Falls ‘Bomb Bots’ robotics team presents season highlights to school board

Members of the Cannon Falls High School FIRST Robotics Team 6217, the Bomb Bots, presented the team’s 2025 season recap to the school board and recognized sponsors who supported the program.

Joe Coyle, a head mentor, introduced the students and said the team rebuilt much of their robot between regionals. Student speakers described the season’s challenge — scoring two game pieces at heights up to 6–8 feet, operating an intake, and performing a climb in the endgame — and summarized competition results: a first regional in Duluth (learning experience), then a strong showing in St. Paul where the team finished fourth out of roughly 53 teams.

Student Thomas (surname not specified) described rapid off‑season redesigns of the robot’s elevator and intake and said the team placed fourth at the St. Paul regional, the highest regional ranking the team has achieved. Mentors and students demonstrated the robot’s scoring and climbing mechanisms for board members and allowed a younger student to practice driving during the presentation.

Team member Madison read a list of sponsors, thanking organizations including Gemini Sign Works, Flex Scribe, StarTech Computing, QualityOne Woodworking, the Cannon Falls Fire Department Association, the Jean Haas Foundation, Midwest Machinery and others; mentors said sponsorships funded items such as the team’s pit sign and 3‑D printers. Mentor Brent Breeze also presented a House resolution recognizing the team that had been delayed in the legislative office move but was signed by local legislators and the speaker of the house.

Board members praised the students’ sportsmanship and community outreach, and several encouraged additional school attendance at future competitions.