What a great Friday in Connecticut.
At many Regionals, you can get a feel about who will be contending and which teams will try to form alliances.
I have no idea how this will play out.
There are at least 4 decent Full Court Shooters, but the defenders showed up early and were effective in swinging matches. 195, the CyberKnights put up some impressive performances consistently filling the 3 point goal. Video is coming.
There are several great cyclers, but less than three effective floor pickups. Team 20, The Rocketeers, quietly go about their business at their end of the field, and before you knew it, they were the only undefeated team.
They have a hot match tomorrow against 195 at 10:59, Match 77.
At least two successful 30 point climbers with 20 point dumps to seduce the top alliances. 236, TechnoTicks are back with Full Court Shooting, climbing, and dumping, and the number 2 rank with two matches tomorrow morning.
The Regional will come down to scouting, batteries, sheared gears, broken keys, luck, and pluck.
One great story is the rookie team 4812, Crosby Robotics, with a paltry crew of maybe five students and mentors that felt like they had bit off more than they could chew. The team was created in December.
On Thursday, they were desperately trying to make their bumpers so they could pass inspection, which they didn't until after their first match. Teams jumped in to help, among many, 4134, Amsterdam, who with a staple gun and hammer, helped them to complete the job. 4812 team was so forlorn at this point.
Then the day began.
In their third match with 228, GUS, they were asked to go after 2170, the Titanium Tomahawks, with their climber dumper, and hit them as they transported their red disks to the pyramid. Crosby's driver did, they lost their cache, and the match was won by only two points.
No question that they are being carried. Nonetheless, they are ranked 12th (losing the first match by DQ) and are theoretically undefeated.
When asked about scouting, they seemed to think about camping.
They are in for quite the ride tomorrow, and may not even see eliminations, but the spirit of
FIRST is alive and well in Connecticut this weekend.