[New Lightning]

With all the confusion out there on who gets wait list spots or not I believe that there could be a simpler, mathematical solution, Have the wait list spots be merit based.

In this merit based system the first wait list spots would go to the team captains of finalist alliances that have not already qualified, in order of Total average score over their season. If all those teams have now qualified then you move on to the first pick and invite those teams based on their Total average score over their season. (etc.)

Not to knock any of the teams that are going to champs on the wait list, but there are some very good teams who have fantastic robots who don't get to go to champs but have played much better on the field than some of the teams on the wait list.

I know that the current system wants to try and get as many teams experience at champs as possible, but when you take away the opportunity from a team with a really competitive bot, and give that opportunity to a team that might not play as well, it seems a little off to me.

If wait list spots were disrupted on merit I believe it would significantly increase the level of competition at champs, and make it more rewarding for those students who have built a good robot and earned the spot by playing well, rather than getting drawn out of the metaphorical hat.