Winning the annual Wyoming FIRST LEGO League robotics tournament isn't an easy task, but the Laser Blazers from Oregon Trail Elementary think they can take away the main prize for a second year.

The Laser Blazers were up bright and early Wednesday morning for one of their last practices before this weekend's competition. Last year, the team went to a national competition in Atlanta after winning Wyoming's tournament.

Team coach and teacher Brad Johnson sipped from a coffee mug as he watched students run a robot through a mission.

"This isn't as nerve-racking as the world competition we went to in Atlanta last year," Johnson said.

Wyoming's LEGO competition challenges students to build and program miniature robots to perform tasks such as moving miniature balls.

In addition, students present research projects about the tournament's theme. This year's projects focus on climate changes.

Most teams in the robotics challenge begin practicing soon after the school year starts. Before long, students are coming in before, after and during school to perfect their robots.

Only a few days remain before competition, and the pressure is on to perfect programs and polish presentations.

"This is crunch time," said Jamie Clouser, also a teacher and coach. "We're going crazy."

A group of boys clustered around their practice table, preparing to run a robot through a mission. A few kinks still needed to be worked out.

"It spins out right at the beginning," one boy said.

"Yup, it did that to me too," another boy chimed in.

A group of girls huddled around a computer trying to finish a slide show and scripts for the team's presentation on pine beetles.

"This year we didn't get everything done," said fifth-grader Samantha Cogdill. "By now, we would be practicing our scripts."

With just 15 minutes left in Wednesday's practice, sixth-grader Tyler Willoughby reminded his teammates how important Thursday's practice would be.

"We should have, like, everything done today," Tyler said. "3:30 to 5:30 [Thursday], we need to just be practicing everything."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com. Read her blog at my.trib.com/jasasantos.

When and where

The Wyoming FIRST LEGO League will hold its third annual robotics competition on Friday and Saturday at the Casper Events Center.

A total of 58 teams from 22 Wyoming communities will compete in the tournament.

The Wyoming FIRST LEGO League will hold its third annual robotics competition on Friday and Saturday at the Casper Events Center.

A total of 58 teams from 22 Wyoming communities will compete in the tournament.]]->