Clay County’s Thompson Scholar LEGO Lions robotics team has placed among the top teams in Kentucky, finishing 5th overall at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) State Championship held Saturday, February 28.
Out of 93 teams competing across the Commonwealth, the rookie team earned a historic finish and secured a bid to the FLL National Open Championship.
The accomplishment is particularly remarkable considering the team was formed only five months ago. Many of the teams they competed against have spent years developing their programs.
“The deck was stacked against us from day one,” said Coach Chelsie Wolfe. “We were the newest team in the league, readying ourselves in months to compete against teams that have been doing this for over a decade. We teach our Scholars resiliency and do our best to model that in daily life. This weekend, our Thompson Scholars modeled to us, and to the entire state, exactly what resiliency should look like.”
Despite competing against established STEM academies with extensive resources and daily practice schedules, the LEGO Lions remained confident throughout the competition.
“Our kids never buckled,” said Coach Margaret Word. “They stood proud against academies that have every advantage. They didn’t just compete — they outperformed them, and they did so graciously.”
The team’s performance earned them the Rising Star Award, a prestigious honor typically awarded to a first-year team that demonstrates exceptional growth and potential.
The season also marked several historic milestones for Clay County students.
Sidney Wolfe became the first female student from Clay County to compete and place at the FLL State level, representing an important step forward for local participation in STEM programs.
Another standout competitor, Ellis Sawyers, a third-grade student, received a rare state exemption allowing him to compete against middle-school students, showcasing exceptional ability at a young age.
As the first-ever FIRST LEGO League team from Clay County, the LEGO Lions advanced further in their inaugural season than many programs achieve in years of competition.
By finishing fifth overall, the team proved their motto — “Rise above all obstacles, always.” Their robot’s consistency and strong team presentations helped demonstrate that Clay County students can compete with some of the most established STEM programs in the state.
The LEGO Lions will now turn their focus toward the FIRST LEGO League National Open Championship, where they will represent both Clay County and Kentucky on a national stage.
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