Imagination and science came together at Central Islip High School on January 21 and 22 at three of five FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifying Tournaments, presented by School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc. (SBPLI). During the events, a total of 84 teams, comprised of students age nine to 14, as well as their mentors, demonstrated their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community. Twenty-two of the teams earned the chance to advance to the FIRST LEGO League Championship, presented by SBPLI on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at Longwood High School.

The theme of this year’s challenge is ANIMAL ALLIESSM, which requires the students to identify and solve real-world problems regarding the way that animals and humans interact and how these interactions can be improved. At each FIRST LEGO League tournament, students present their research to a group of judges.

FIRST LEGO League introduces young people to the excitement of learning with its partner, The LEGO Group. Students are encouraged to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields both within the FIRST program and in their future education and careers.

Owing to the benefits that robotics programs, such as those offered by FIRST, bring to children of all ages, the FIRST LEGO League has continually seen rapid growth on Long Island. Each year, the program adds more teams, which resulted in the addition of a fifth tournament in 2017 – held the afternoon of Saturday, January 21.

After the conclusion of each event, teams were presented with a variety of awards. A full breakdown from each event can be found below:

Qualifier No. 1 – Saturday, January 21 (AM Session)

AWARD
TEAM #
TEAM NAME
HOMETOWN

Highest Robot Score [71 Pts]
15262
Mattlin 2
Plainview

Alliance Award Winners
23837
ROBOCLAWS
Syosset

 
16286
The Humanoids
Lake Grove

Mechanical Design Award
2182
Longwood MS Dakers
Middle Island

Programming Award
9556
Robophantoms
Bayport

Strategy & Innovation Award
16286
The Humanoids
Lake Grove

Research Award
15262
Mattlin 2
Plainview

Innovative Solution Award
2183
Longwood Jr. High Jannsen
Middle Island

Presentation Award
23094
Floybots
Shirley

Inspiration Award
6116
Rocky Point Robo Eagles
Rocky Point

Teamwork Award
20384
LEGO Lovelies
Garden City

Gracious Professionaliam 
20624
Babylon Panthers
Babylon

Champion Award
2774
JFK Rogue Wolves
Rocky Point

Qualifier No. 5 – Saturday, January 21 (PM Session)

AWARD
TEAM #
TEAM NAME
HOMETOWN

Highest Robot Score [71 Pts]
11362
Harry Pepe
Stony Brook

Alliance Award Winners
11363
Bat Bots
Stony Brook

 
27148
Goose Busters
Centerport

Mechanical Design Award
23917
Bot 2
Syosset

Programming Award
11362
Harry Pepe
Stony Brook

Strategy & Innovation Award
9406
Harborfields LEGO Minions
Centerport

Research Award
27148
Goose Busters
Centerport

Innovative Solution Award
20757
LYSA Rusty Robots
Middle Island

Presentation Award
11363
Bat Bots
Stony Brook

Inspiration Award
19656
Robo Brains
St. James

Teamwork Award
7959
RoboElks
Patchogue

Gracious Professionaliam 
28053
Team NCR 2
Miller Place

Champion Award
684
STOBOR
Syosset

Qualifier No. 2 – Sunday, January 22

AWARD
TEAM #
TEAM NAME
HOMETOWN

Highest Robot Score [71 Pts]
15488
Spicy Memes of Dawnwood
Centereach

Alliance Award Winners
185
Radical Robots
Seaford

 
6536
Center Moriches Seagulls
Center Moriches

Mechanical Design Award
1087
Brainstormers
Bayport

Programming Award
16719
OMS Tornadoes
Greenlawn

Strategy & Innovation Award
15481
Metal Environment
Centereach

Research Award
15833
Commack Wildcats
Commack

Innovative Solution Award
6536
Center Moriches Seagulls
Center Moriches

Presentation Award
4454
Berner Bison Bots
Massapequa

Inspiration Award
25194
The Constructorz
Woodbury

Teamwork Award
185
Radical Robots
Bayport

Gracious Professionaliam 
16315
Dopefins
Oyster Bay

Champion Award
92
Sea Lions
Seaford

The following 22 teams have advanced to the Long Island FIRST LEGO League Championships, which will take place on March 5 at Longwood High School:

TEAM #
TEAM NAME
HOMETOWN
QUALIFIER #

2182
Longwood MS Dakers
Middle Island
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

2774
JFK Rogue Wolves
Terryville
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

7854
The Llamajacks
Port Jefferson
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

8085
Rocky Point Radical Robotix
Rocky Point
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

15262
Mattlin 2
Plainview
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

20624
Babylon Panthers
Babylon
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

23094
Floydbots
Shirley
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

23837
ROBOCLAWS
Syosset
#1 - Sat, Jan 21 AM

684
STOBOR
Syosset
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

9406
Harborfields Library LEGO Minions
Centerport
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

11362
Harry Pepe
Stony Brook
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

11363
Bat Bots
Stony Brook
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

20757
LYSA Rusty Robots
Middle Island
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

27148
Goose Busters
Centerport
#5 - Sat, Jan 21 PM

92
Sea Lions
Seaford
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

1087
BRAINSTORMERS
Bayport
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

5357
RoboTron
Jericho
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

15481
Metal Environment
Centereach
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

15490
Dawnwood LEGO Panthers
Centereach
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

16314
The Bunker Boys
Oyster Bay
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

27049
Bay Shore Middle School
Bay Shore
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

29491
ThingEMbob
East Moriches
#2 - Sun, Jan 22

Tournament sponsors include School-Business Partnerships of Long Island, Inc., Central Islip Public Schools, Mineola Public Schools, Longwood Central School District, Connetquot School District, LuHi Summer Camp Programs, FIRST, Brookhaven National Lab, The Stern Family, Sideboard Computers, LEGO Education – Robert Woods, Bank of America – Andy Margolin, Plainview-Old Bethpage School District, Sir Speedy of Plainview. National sponsors include National Instruments, Rockwell Automation, 3M and LEGO.