[Billfred]

Hoo, what a ride.

For the first time in five years, I'm not worried about our on-field performance. Qualification rounds did us few favors--those two three-on-two rounds were not my idea of fun--but we kept making consistently great runs after a lousy practice day. I had my hopes up for us to get picked, but I could tell as the second draft round progressed that market wasn't quite right for lapping robots in a regional so large. It happens. Still, to see that spark in our newbie-heavy team made the whole exercise worthwhile.

This is our first regional beyond Palmetto (and our only of 2008), and it was great to play at last with teams I've known of for years (see also: 341, 709, 836) and some I've only recently crossed paths with (see also: 88*, 359, 1027, 1111).

Much thanks to all of our partners, all the teams who helped us out with those odds and ends that didn't quite hit the road with the team, and of course thanks to the volunteers that put up with our antics of last-minute queuing and pipe-scattering along the way. I hope we make this trip a regular feature of our season.

*Oh yeah? OH YEAH!