[SURVIVORfan44]

My thoughts about this year's VCU Regional:

The game wasn't nearly as excited as last year's game. This year's game was a lot less defensive and less brutal. I am a volunteer; and this year, I didn't pick up many broken pieces from robots. Last year, I couldn't even pick up the balls because I was so busy picking up pieces of pieces of robots that had been smashed off. I like seeing a less brutal game if it means less excitement. It would hurt to know that you work for so long, only to have your robot be destroyed by another robot playing defense. Last year, I felt like all of the teams were prepared and had very decent robots. This year, I felt like the teams weren't as prepared and the robots were not as impressive as last year's to me.

However, there were so many teams that shocked me. The rookies impressed me the most. 2108 and 2068 come to my mind when I think of the word "rookie". These teams did better than most of the teams at the regional. They did better than some of the teams that are veterans to the competition. They deserve a lot of credit.
There are some other teams that usually do not do so well in previous years that shocked me this year.

It was also nice to see different teams win the awards this year. I sort of felt like the same teams were winning the same awards over and over again so it was very nice to see different teams win for once.

I was more than happy to see that 612 won the Chairman's this year--they earned it.

To the three teams that won-2108, 540, and 843--these teams deserved to win. They were the true underdogs for nearly the entire event. They pulled together and worked with some intense teamwork shown by no other alliance. Not to mention the alliance was led by a rookie team.
In my eyes, any of those alliances could have won easily. It was all about collaboration and those three teams that won had it all.
The three teams that won were very diverse. We have the Canadian team, the veteran team/triplet, and last and certainly not least--the rookie team.
Diversity is a good thing. ;-)

Teams that stick out in my mind:
1033--I'd be afraid to compete against them.
343--very quick, great tube manipulator
612--after they took off the ramp, they became a threat.
1885--very impressive, the ramp along with the arm.
116--fast, quick, and precise. (I picked them to win as soon as I saw their robot on the field)
1610--one of the best autonomous programs, very fast and effective.