The Wingers Soar To Nationals!

Get ready to meet a team of young engineers making waves in the world of robotics: The Wingers from Red Wing High School! This dedicated group of 9th and 10th-grade students is passionately expanding their knowledge and putting their skills to the test on the national stage.

The Wingers recently proved themselves at the Winona Competition this past summer, where their innovative spirit shone brightly. Their achievement? They were named Runner Up for Best Innovation! Their standout idea was a product for the Fastenal Challenge: SPILL BLOCK. They will replace the Pirates of the Mississippi at Nationals.

SPILL BLOCK: Rethinking Safety and Spills

SPILL BLOCK is the Wingers' ingenious solution to the common problem of slip and falls. This isn't your average sticky mat; it's a completely new approach to managing liquid spills in high-traffic areas such as manufacturing floors, labs, warehouses, and even school settings.

What Makes SPILL BLOCK Unique?

Modular Design: Unlike competitors who rely on a sticky adhesive, SPILL BLOCK uses a modular design. This crucial feature allows workers to easily access the machinery underneath the spill containment area and simplifies the clean-up process.

Durability & Sustainability: Built to last, the material used in SPILL BLOCK is designed to endure for years and years. Even better, it’s made from 100% recycled rubber! 

Easy Maintenance: The rubber material is specifically chosen to be easy to wipe off, making quick work of messy substances like oil.

The team’s slogan? Anytime people and liquids interact, you want a Spill Block. Its design makes it an ideal, easy-to-integrate safety solution for various environments.

Meet the Team

The Wingers are a collection of focused, driven students eager to level up their abilities:

Tristan Wilczynska: With a deep passion for robotics and engineering, Tristan is already pushing boundaries, interning at an AI company and leading AI initiatives at his high school. He is looking forward to growing his engineering abilities and problem-solving with his teammates at Nationals.

Bentley Ricks: Focused on gaining real-world experience, Bentley views this opportunity as a significant step in strengthening his college application and improving his competitive skills for future events.

Gavin Plath: A core member of the team, Gavin helps ensure the Wingers have a solid foundation in the principles of robotics and engineering.

Piper Ryan: We'd also like to extend a warm welcome to Piper Ryan, who is stepping up to replace Seth Ziemer at Nationals. We're excited to see her contribute to the team's success!

The entire community is rooting for the Wingers as they head to Nationals! We wish Bentley, Gavin, Tristan and Piper the best of luck as they compete and showcase their impressive innovation. Go, Wingers!