Another option is you can buy the Matrix Kit of Parts which comes with everything you need to build a robot to get started. However, if your budget is limited for the season, the team is committed to using Matrix and raw materials.
If you are curious, our team has launched videos on youtube so your team can see the difference in robots you can build. The matrix robot is much lighter than the ranger robot. Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/robogamersonline