The Norwalk High School robotics team returned home after representing Iowa at the inaugural FIRST United States Governor’s Cup held last weekend in Washington, D.C.

The RoboWarriors were selected by the Iowa Department of Education and the Governor’s Office to compete in the national event, which brought together top high school robotics teams from all 50 states in a bracket-style tournament at DAR Constitution Hall. Teams competed using the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics platform in a showcase of engineering, teamwork, and innovation. Norwalk finished the two-day competition with a 2–3 record, placing 40th overall. The team also ranked 13th in overall scoring ability, highlighting its offensive performance against some of the top programs in the country.

During the trip, team members also met with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who offered her support and recognition of their achievement in representing the state on a national stage. The national appearance marks a milestone for the RoboWarriors program and caps off a strong stretch of competition for the team.

The focus now quickly shifts back to Iowa, as Norwalk is set to compete in the state robotics competition beginning today. The Iowa First Tech Challenge Championship will be held through tomorrow at Xtream Arena and GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville. A total of 72 teams will be competing.

More information about the Iowa FTC Championship can be found at FIRST Tech Challenge: Iowa Championship | College of Engineering – The University of Iowa