Bemidji area robotics teams compete for the first time in a year The first-ever Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference invitational event was put together for the robotics teams of the region who otherwise would have gone without a competition season. he tournament held, Saturday, April 17, featured 24 teams from around the area. 2:43 pm, Apr. 20, 2021 × Bemidji’s William Coan, left, and Avery Gieser set up their robot to compete on April 17, 2021, at the Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference at the Sanford Center. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer) BEMIDJI -- It was shaping up to be a year without a competition for the Bemidji High School RoboJacks -- and other high school robotics teams throughout the country.