Coaches

Sarah Oelkers

Head Coach

This is the fourth year that Mrs. Oelkers has been a FIRST Robotics coach. She has been a Life Science teacher at Blooming Prairie High School since 2014. She LOVES science and enjoys sharing the world of robotics with her students. 

Brandon Oelkers

Assistant Coach

Brandon is an IT Systems Administrator at Olmsted Medical Center. This is his third year Assistant Coach after a year of mentoring during the rookie season.

Team pictures coming soon...

Baylee sorensen

  MEDIA TEAM
I am a junior and this is my third year in robotics. I have four cats, and my favorite one is Moushi. I take post secondary classes at Riverland College in Austin, MN. I run the Wrench Warmer social media accounts, which are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  I like the team dynamic of robotics and I am looking forward to meeting other teams at competition. 

Halle strunk

MEDIA AND ORGANIZATION
​I am a sophomore and this is my first year in robotics. You'll often see me running around and doing crafty things for the team. I joined robotics to stay busy, and so far I am loving being part of the team. I am looking forward to going on the luxurious Duluth trip.

Reese millam

ORGANIZATION TEAM
I am a sophomore and this is my second year in robotics. I have two cats, Cinder and Piglet, and a dog named Miles. I play the violin and I love to read. I was Dorothy in the school musical, The Wizard of Oz. I am looking forward to the Duluth competition so I can meet new teams and see all the unique robots. I really hope that our team can have a successful season and that we build an awesome robot.

chris shepard

MEDIA AND ORGANIZATION
I am a sophomore and this is my first year in robotics. I love being busy and helping my team. I am very outgoing and you'll never see me being quiet. I am looking forward to going to Duluth! I'm never bored at practice because robotics is something that I enjoy. I love working and being productive with my friends. 

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william cardenas

PROGRAMMING
I am a senior and this is my second year in robotics. I was in robotics when I was a freshman, and I decided to join again this year. I am excited to go the Duluth and see the robots that the other teams have built. I plan on going to the University of Minnesota to study Sports Management. 
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​Riley millam

 PROGRAMMING
Hi, I am Riley. I am a senior this year, and I have been in robotics for four years. I am lead programmer and I can use seven coding languages. They are: 
C#, Java, HTML, CSS, Swift, JavaScript, a SCAD language, and I am currently learning Python. I wish to attend college for a degree in computer engineering. I have three other siblings and a big, fluffy dog named Miles. My sister, Reese, is also in robotics.

Ian wayne

ELECTRICAL
I am a senior and this is my first year in robotics. I play baseball and I was in the musical. I have always wanted to join, but I was busy with other sports. I finally decided to join and give it a try. I have a cat named Winnie and I am very good with animals. I was the Scarecrow from our school play, The Wizard of Oz. After I graduate high school, I want to be a zoologist and work with big cats.

payton simon

PROGRAMMING AND ELECTRICAL
I am a senior and this my first year in robotics. I love to spend time with my friends and family. I joined robotics to get out of my comfort zone and I wanted to learn more. I was in the school musical as the Lion from The Wizard of Oz. When I graduate high school, I want to get a degree in Bio Medical Engineering.

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MACKENZIE MADSEN

ORGANIZATION AND MEDIA
I am a sophomore and this is my first year in robotics. I play softball and volleyball. I joined robotics because I wanted to spend times with friends and be active during the winter. I was also interested in learning the process of how a robot is made. I am looking forward to having an awesome trip to Duluth.
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​Seth peterson

PROGRAMMING TEAM
I am a senior this year and my favorite class is math. I joined robotics because this is a place where I can hang out with my friends and I also like learning about the mechanics of the robot. This is my first year and robotics and I am looking forward to seeing how our robot performs at competition. I play football and baseball and I am always active.

cole graves

BUILD TEAM
I am a sophomore and my favorite subject is math. It is interesting to me and I like how easy it comes to me. This is my second year in robotics and I like problem-solving while I am building the robot. I am looking forward to our robot doing well at competition. I love to make jokes with my friends and you'll often catch me laughing.

ISAAC ARNOLD

BUILD TEAM
I am a sophomore and my favorite class is history because the subject come naturally to me. This is my first year in robotics and I joined because I was interested. I am looking forward to going to Duluth and seeing how the competition works.

GAVIN HALVERSON

PROGRAMMING AND BUILD
I am a sophomore and my favorite class art because I enjoy the freedom to create art. I have seven fish, including angel fish, rasboras, and plecos. This is my first year in robotics and I joined because I have been interested in it for a while. I am looking forward to the competition in Duluth.
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DEVONTAE FREESE

BUILD AND SAFETY
I am a junior and this is my first year in robotics. I am very energetic and I always love to be busy. I am looking forward to having a successful robot that does well in competition. I like to draw and listen to music. My favorite subjects are science and history because they interest me. I am excited to go to Duluth and meet new friends.

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ISAAC HANSON

BUILD TEAM
I am senior and my favorite class is anatomy because it provides a challenge for me. I like listening to music and my favorite artist is Mac Miller (RIP). I have been in robotics for four years and I joined the first year it was an option. I joined because I thought building a robot would be something new to interest me. This year I look forward to going to the Duluth competition because I learn so many new things there. 

JILLIAN WIGHAM

FOREMAN
This is my third year in robotics and I am a junior. I like to read and my favorite book is The Hate U Give. I joined robotics because it was something new to me. I wanted to try something that was unconventional. I am looking forward to our team growing and us working together.
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THOMAS DONNELLY

PROGRAMMING AND ELECTRICAL
I am a sophomore and my favorite class is history because i admire the teacher. My favorite color is white because it is simple, but complex all at once. I joined robotics for the friends and many memories and jokes. This is my first year in robotics, and I am looking forward to working with my friends. 
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KISHA AQUINO

SAFETY AND MEDIA
This is my third year in robotics and I am the safety leader. Last year I won a UL Safety Star. I am in the One Act Play and I like to draw. I joined robotics because some of my favorite teachers coach it and I get to spend time with my friends. I am looking forward to getting to know other teams at competition.

CARSON WACEK

BUIILD TEAM
I am a freshman and this is my second year in robotics because I was on the junior robotics team. I joined because robotics has always been something I have wanted to do. I look forward to the team dynamic and I am excited for the trip to Duluth. I have two little Boston Terriers. I am always up to build something for the team.

VIRIDIANA VILLAREAL

DRIVE TEAM AND MEDIA
I am a junior and this is my third year in robotics. I play the tuba, bass guitar, and percussion and I am class president. I am looking forward to learning new skills for future robotic seasons and potential careers. In Duluth, I can't wait to make new memories with friends, old and new.

Charlie heimerman

ELECTRICAL AND PROGRAMMING
This is my second year in robotics and I am a sophomore. I have a dog named Leo, and I am excited for the competition in Duluth. I joined robotics because I like to be surrounded by my friends. I was the Tin Man in our school musical, The Wizard of Oz.

ADAM LARSON

PROGRAMMING AND ELECTRICAL
This is my third year in robotics and I am a junior. I love to read and my favorite series are the Sword of Truths. I joined robotics to keep me busy. I am looking forward to the competition in Duluth and I can't wait to see what our robot can do.
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JACK MATSON

BUILD AND DESIGN
This is my third year in robotics and I am a junior. I like to play the card game Magic the Gathering. I like to be involved in every step of the robot's production. I have Newfoundland named Bear. I am looking forward seeing our robot succeed in competition.
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D.J. STENDER

BUILD TEAM
This is third year in robotics and I am a junior. I have a dog named Lucy and she is very cute. I am am eagle scout and I play the alto saxophone. I enjoy being there for my team and helping build the robot. I am looking forward to seeing what our robot can do this year, and I really want to have an awesome season. 

Mentors

Marcus zellmer

​My name is Marcus - this is my third year as a robotics mentor with the Wrench Warmers.  I am a 2007 BPHS grad, and am currently working systems engineering with Boeing's Research and Technology group (BR&T).  I work with the planning and design/development team, and am currently living in St. Louis area with my wife Andrea and our two young daughters

 

Matt Steiner

HI, my name is Matt. This is my second year as robotics mentor. I work directly with the programming team. I also work at IBI Data as the lead Web Developer. I live in Brownsdale with my girlfriend, Wendy. 
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wendy andersen

Hi my name is Wendy. This is my second year as a mentor, I work closely with the media team. After attending the competition two years ago, in Duluth, I became interested in being apart of this organization. I own my own business. My favorite color is  green, in my spare time I like to do crafts. 

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