By Dan Ninham
The Denfeld Nation Automation (DNA) Robotics Team attended the 2025 World FIRST Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas in April. This followed another event they attended in 2023 also in Houston.
According to their website, “FIRST Robotics Competition gives high school students and their adult mentors the opportunity to work and create together to solve a common problem. Teams of students are challenged to design, build, and program robots and compete for awards, while they also create a team identity, raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance respect and appreciation for STEM within the local community.”
Tanner Wienke is from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He is a senior at Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minnesota. Wienke was not only a member of the high school robotics team, he also served as the operator of the robot in competition.
“When I was in middle school I was in a few after school STEM-related activities but had never heard of the sport of robotics,” recalled Wienke. “Until when I was going to be a freshman at Denfeld, I decided I would go and see what it was about, when I was greeted with open arms and invited to join. Now I spend most of my nights there sometimes even till 11 pm building and chatting with like-minded people.”
“My favorite experiences that have stemmed from robotics are the two times our team had gone to the world championship while I’ve been on the team,” said Wienke. “Both times I have been a part of the drive team which are the people who get to go out onto the field and operate the robot.”
“Being at the world championship is such a unique experience getting to represent our community from Minnesota on a world stage. From talking to 600+ teams from over 66 different countries you have so many talented people to learn from and so many opportunities to grow,” added Wienke.
“We competed in 10 matches and went 7-3 making us the highest ranked we have ever been at the world championship,” said Wienke. “Now we are turning our eyes to do the best we can at the Minnesota State Championship. I was also nominated and won the all state award where only 18 people from across Minnesota get chosen because of the impact they have had on their team,” he added.
Student leaders are influenced by family and school staff to make the right decisions to benefit the school and others.
“One person who has influenced me the most would be my grandma Barbra Wienke,” said Wienke. “Before she passed away in 2019 to cancer she had always supported me in any way she could. From giving me advice on anything I could ask her, giving her all at whatever I needed help with, or cheering me on at any event I was at, she has always pushed me to be my best self.”
“My coach/teacher Andrew Gunderson has been a large influence to me as well. He has done so much for not only me but also the team from spending late nights at the school to being ready to take on any challenge that crosses paths with him. His dedication and passion he has is contagious and is constantly pushing me to do my best no matter what is to happen,” added Wienke.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching Tanner Wienke on our FIRST Robotics team for the past four years, where he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication,” said Andrew Gunderson, Engineering and Industrial Technology Instructor and DNA (Denfeld Nation Automation) Robotics Coach at Duluth Denfeld HS.
“His passion for robotics and drive to succeed were evident from the moment he joined our team. He quickly became an integral member of our build team, demonstrating a strong work ethic and a willingness to tackle challenging task,” added Gunderson.
“Tanner possesses a remarkable ability to think critically and creatively, always seeking innovative solutions to complex problems. He quickly rose to become a leader on the build team, and has been our Build Captain for the past two years,” said Gunderson.
“Tanner has also been an integral member of our Drive Team, operating our robot during the tele-operational periods at competitions,” added Gunderson.
JP Rennquist is the American Indian Home School Liaison at Denfeld High School. He said, “Tanner is a high GPA student of excellent character. He has a combination of humility and self-assuredness and he is also a team player. Confident but not arrogant. He shows a great deal of servant leadership on his team.”
“One thing that I talk about a lot with our young people of today is that they stand on the shoulders of their ancestors,” continued JP Rennquist. “We know from Anishinaabe teachings carried forward that their ancestors spent time in prayer and anticipation, planning for their future.”
“The young people of today are that seventh or eighth generation that came after some very difficult decisions for the tribal leaders of that time. Those great leaders who we talk about such as Chief Buffalo, Chief Osaugie, even John Beargrease and many others – Tanner and many of our teens today are their direct descendants,” added Rennquist.
“I believe that the things that Tanner continues to show us with robotics, with his excellence in academics, and with how he treats everyone with decency and respect are all prayers from Tanner back to his ancestors,” said Rennquist.
The robotics event can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/jlCNqw_mIqY?si=JKLUt9_iuRGOoIX
