By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Geary USD 475 says that Junction City Middle School eighth grade students Lucas Williams and Gunnar Peterson placed fifth overall at the 2026 National TSA Convention in Washington, D.C.
"I am incredibly proud of Lucas and Gunnar for their hard work and dedication in earning this outstanding accomplishment at nationals,” said Ma. Flordeliza Russell, JCMS TSA Advisor. “I also want to extend my sincere thanks to the parents and the Junction City Middle School administrative team for their unwavering support of JCMS TSA. Their encouragement and commitment helped make it possible for the program to achieve so much during its very first year of implementation."
Williams and Peterson, who claimed Kansas TSA State Championship honors in April, wrapped up the middle school robotics division placing fifth overall out of 10 teams, nationally. With their fifth-place finish, Williams and Peterson earned the highest robotics placement of any Kansas team in either the middle school or high school division at nationals. The next-highest Kansas finisher was Hillsboro High School, who placed ninth overall in high school robotics.