[Navid Shafa]

Originally Posted by Thad House

From what I heard, they were actually the FTC world finalists last year and moved to FRC this year.

Yep, FTC 3717.

Originally Posted by Thad House

So they have the experience and sustainability in FIRST. I bet they could have won Chairman's had FIRST allowed rookie teams to apply.

Taken from the Chairman's description:

"The Chairman’s Award is presented to the team judged to have the most significant and measurable impact of its partnerships among its participants, among its school, and its community over a sustained period; not just a single season or school year."

Award Criteria includes these points:
...

• Describe the impact of the FIRST program on team participants with special emphasis on the current season and the preceding two to five years
• Describe the impact of the FIRST program on your community with special emphasis on the current season and the preceding two to five years
• Describe the strength of your partnership with your sponsors with special emphasis on the 2013/2014 year and the preceding two to five years

...

These specific criteria would certainly make it difficult, but not impossible to surpass older teams in these categories. However, ShockWave is a perfect example that these aren't limiting factors, it's certainly about quality not necessarily quantity. It is an intriguing prospect, I would be curious if you can take into consideration previous work as a collective 'team', not including FRC. I can't find any documentation or criteria that regulates this. If you can take into account previous 'team' activity, then it's very possible they could have had a shot at it, especially while going to 3 districts this year. We'll never know, but perhaps we'll find out next year if they really are at that level.