On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the LigerBots hosted their annual FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) Qualifier at Newton North High School. FLL is a competition where students in grades 4–8 design and build LEGO® robots to complete themed challenges.

Two teams compete in a “coopertition” (cooperation and competition mashed up)

25 teams competed in this year’s game, titled UNEARTHED, challenging teams to complete a variety of archaeology-related missions. For example, one was called Surface Brush, where teams had to swing away dirt and remove a shovel with their robot.

The “Goofy Gyros” deep in the action of a match

75 LigerBots members plus volunteers from the community worked tirelessly setting up the event the night before and running it throughout the day — from managing matches to cleaning up afterward. Members did jobs such as MC, DJ, concessions, door greeter, referee, judge, and even more. 

An MC remarked, “Wow, I had so much fun helping everyone at the event have so much fun!”.

Shot of a team competing in UNEARTHED, while spectators watch

In the cafeteria, teams set up “the pits,” where they displayed informational posters about their work and made adjustments to their robots between matches. A practice area was also available for teams to test their robots before competing.

Example of a “pit”

Between matches, participants could stop by the LigerBooth outside the pits, featuring different kinds of Origami arts. Attendees could create complex paper airplanes, stars, and even triangles!

After the matches concluded, teams celebrated at an afterparty while judges finalized results for robot design, innovation projects, and overall team dynamics. Teams were rewarded for their score in their matches, but also their sportsmanship, known as their gracious professionalism.

Shot of afterparty in the cafeteria

Finally, the award ceremony recognized teams for their skill, creativity, courage, and kindness. In the end, only 8 teams advanced to the next round, but everyone had a lot of fun and developed their STEAM skills.

Birds-eye photo of the whole team

We thank everyone who came out to the event – parents, siblings, competitors, Ligerbots members, and everyone else!

But wait — there’s much, much more! Stay tuned for the Cub Scouts visit, the FLL Championship, and Kickoff!