Our team will be attending two regionals this year.
I think we've been very spoiled in the past because we used to be one of the founding teams and would automatically qualify for nationals. When our team started, it was named Team 20 because of sponsor assignments I believe. We then changed to 250 when our sponsor name changed. Then our two-school team split up so that Shenendahowa and Colonie would each have their own team. They took the name Team 20 and we kept 250. So now I know our team does not get the exemption because our base used to be Shenendahowa High School before we split. I'm not sure if their team gets an automatic exemption into nationals still or not. I hope they do because somebody has to go down there and represent

.
But back to my original point, our team has been spoiled with the exemption. This year we don't have it and they're afraid of going to 1 regional and saving for nationals. (Our team can only go to 2 competitions). So now instead of possibly qualifying for nationals, we get two regionals. This upsets me for a couple reasons.
1. At the regional competitions, there is not as much to be working towards because you know you're into your next competition.
2. Our first team meeting involving us students was last night. The adults had already made the decision.
I'm feeling a bit sorry for the kids who were Juniors last year when we went to nationals. We got on that plane to come home and they had no idea that we would not even try to get them back again.