For the first time ever, rookie teams in the FIRST Robotics competition took the top spots and at the top, was Thomas Edison High School in Minneapolis.

Our Lady of Lourdes of Ontario and Midland Dow High School of Michigan also took top honors.

Three schools are named champions of the Rookie Regional because FIRST Robotics is set up where teams compete as an alliance.

The nationwide FIRST Robotics, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, program provides students a unique preview into the professional world of engineering, science and math, while competing with their peers in a high school varsity sport atmosphere.

Nearly two dozen teams from across the United States and Canada participated in the inaugural competition.