[RyanMcE]

As the member of team 824 said, the winners of the Portland regional (429, 1031, 957) complimented each other's abilities.

Team 492, a small ball gatherer and capper, ended up seeded #1, after going 8-1 in qualifications. We were actaully helped out by oposing robots hanging, as we had, by far, the highest ranking score in the top 15. With just one opponent hanging, we could easily win with just six balls in the goal with it capped. We often had as many as ten, and one time we had twelve balls in the big goal before capping it.

1031 was the most consistent hanger at the regional. In seven out of nine matches, they ended up hanging. They were easily our first pick alliance partner.

957 hung 5 out of the 9 times, tied for second place with a plethora of other worthy teams. They were just the lucky ones that the other teams overlooked until we got to pick again.

In elimination matches, both 957 and 1031 performed admirably, although 753 (picked by the number 6 alliance, and overcoming two higher ranked alliances to meet us in the finals) outdueled them in one game, toppling them.

492 had trouble only once with a robot harassing us as we tried to cap the big goal, but we still won that match due to many 5 pointers and a hanging robot.

Now that I've said all that, here are the conclusions that I draw from our experiences:

The best alliances will consist of robots that, in comibnation, do all three things well: hanging, small ball colection, and big ball capping.

Thats who we won the PNW regional.

See you in Atlanta!

~Ryan