[RyanMcE]

As a member of a team on the winning alliance, I would just like everyone to know that we asked the head referee if there was any way we could agree to give the other alliance more time to fix their robot. He said quite simply, no, that the match would have to start once the timeout was over.

It match had been so epic up to that point (a tie, a loss, a win, then 4 false starts) that it was really rather anticlimatic to win that way. Still, you guys should be proud of yourselves for winning twice as the "underdogs" as number six seeds.

We were in a similar situation last year in the PNW regional in Seattle. Team 233 ("Pink") was the number one ranked alliance, and we had upset the #2 alliance (we were in the #3 alliance) to meet them in the finals. There was a false start in that match as well (we actually played the entire match with one robot disabled). On the next round, given no time to switch batteries, our robot lost power and we were unable to complete the match strongly. The result was a second-place finish. The lesson is this: your time will come. Clearly, with everything that went wrong with our robots during those false starts, we had some extreme luck to win this regional. Either one of our alliances was good enough, luck was just on our side.

To everyone on the second place alliance though, I have to say, you guys were great. You took your bad luck professionally and graciously and you all top-caliber opponents and fellow FIRST teams. I hope 753 is going to nationals and that they can fix their drivetrain, because I would sure like to team up WITH them next time.

And to our alliance partners, 1031 and 957, you guys were awesome. You came through in the clutch every time and were everything we could have hoped for in alliance partners. Congrats on an awesome season. We look forward to seeing you, 957, at nationals - we got a sponsor at the last minute due to our win in Portland.

Good luck to all!