BROOKFIELD — The school district’s drone racing team has been invited by the Drones in Schools organization to a national championship competition May 10 and 11 in Denver, Colo.

Superintendent Toby Gibson said the team has been competing virtually and was ranking second in the virtual race.

“The team is among local schools whose drone teams have been competing in the local league. For their second year to be going to a national event is big news,” Gibson said.

The school district started drone racing in the 2021-22 school year through the Trumbull County Educational Service Center. The Trumbull County Drone Racing League includes Badger, Brookfield, Southington, Howland, LaBrae, Liberty, Mineral Ridge and McDonald. Schools received a grant through the TCESC to purchase drones and needed equipment, and have practiced since January.

Victory Christian Center in Niles also competes in the Trumbull league, but is not a member of the TCESC.

The league is a member of the National Drones in Schools program, which allows them to compete virtually with other teams across the country.

Gibson said he is working to get some donations from local business partners to help the team pay for their trip to Denver. Brookfield in 2022 hosted a Brookfield Drone Racing Invitational at the high school gymnasium. Brookfield drone racing coach is Tim Reinsel.

A local competition took place Saturday at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Brookfield won the Judge’s Presentation Award, while the Southington Drone Cats took first place in the head-to-head competition and Mineral Ridge Rams took first place in the Capture the Flag event. Victory Christian Center was named overall champion of Saturday’s competition.