Published in the December 15, 2017 edition
THE LEGO LORDS advance to the eastern state champions from a field of 24 teams who competed at the Raiders Rumble held on Saturday December 9, at Melrose Veterans Middle School. Pictured from left to right: Emily Giovanardi, Aysha Lakacha, Allison Lakacha (coach), Matteo Giovanardi, Timmy Rosell, Betsy Giovanardi (coach), Ronan Melville (Courtesy photo)
MELROSE — For the second year in a row the Lego Lords advance to the eastern state champions from a field of 24 teams who competed at the Raiders Rumble held on Saturday December 9, at Melrose Veterans Middle School.
The Lego Lords got off to a great start with a field high score of 130 points, and settled into third place overall in the preliminary rounds.
Concurrent with competition on the field, the team went through three intense panel-led judging sessions. From this they ultimately emerged with the Teamwork award that celebrates the student’s ability to collaborate with each other and draw out the talents of each individual team member. This collaboration was evident in the team’s presentation of their novel pump system that could create end-of-hose pressure sufficient for spray watering from water captured in a rain barrel.
Betsy Giovanardi won the “Coach/Mentor Award” that recognizes outstanding coaching. Betsy was joined by Allison Lakacha as co-coach. Betsy is also the CAD instructor at Melrose High School.
Representing the Horace Mann School, the Digital Dragons paired up with the first place team to enter the elimination rounds and made it to the semi-finals. A very strong showing for this reconstituted team. Also representing Melrose was the MVMMS team run by Brian McDonald.
