Written by high school intern, Nathalie De Leon Ventura

Bloomington high school students are celebrating a major achievement after the Team BJORG 2470 robotics team won the 2026 Granite City Regional competition, marking the team’s first regional victory since 2009. The team includes students from Jefferson High School, Kennedy High School, and New Code Academy. 

The team competed against 50 teams from across the region at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Teaming up with two alliance partners, Team BJORG helped secure a dominant win in the finals, sweeping both matches to claim the regional title. 

“This win is a powerful example of what students can achieve with access to strong academic programs, dedicated mentors and supportive school leadership,” said Team BJORG leadership. “This reflects months of hard work, collaboration, and innovation by students across all three schools, as well as support from mentors, sponsors, and local community.”

Team BJORG also earned the Imagery Award, which recognizes excellence in team branding, robot design, and overall presentation.

The team’s achievements build on their growing success. In 2025, BJORG competed at the first Championship in Houston, TX, representing Bloomington on an international stage.

The Granite City Regional is part of the FIRST Robotics Competition, where high school students design, build, and program robots to compete in fast-paced engineering challenges.