“The Loneliest Road in America” connects Sedalia with Sacramento, Calif., where Team SCREAM is competing as the lone team from Missouri at this weekend’s robotics competition.

The defending world champions from Smith-Cotton High School are among 34 teams in this weekend’s event in neighboring Elk Grove, one week after defending their home turf by claiming the Central Missouri Regional title. Captain Morgan Withers says the team is looking forward to testing their mettle against some of the world’s top-ranked programs.

Withers recently reflected on her years with the Smith-Cotton robotics program, and recounted some of the biggest lessons she’s learned.

Withers says her time with Team SCREAM has given her a stronger voice to advocate for careers that emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math.

Team SCREAM will compete later this month at an event in Oklahoma City before setting their sights on defending their title at the FIRST Robotics championships this April in Houston.