[N7UJJ]

We competed in AZ where team 39 dominated. We knew we would meet them again in Las Vegas. We were on the opposite side of the field in a qualifying match. Although our robot can score "pretty well", we knew we would lose in a shoot out with 39, so we played defense and won the match.

In the final match we were opposite 39 and undefeated 987 and 1013. We could not shut down two high scorers. Even our scouting program's match simulator predicted a defeat for us.

We would have been disappointed if we didn't have a match up with some of the best robots of this year. Winning a regional where the best were not allowed to compete would be a lesser victory. Our varsity team does not want a victory in a competition where the best were excluded. We want to compete with the best, because if we ever win a regional, we want want to know that our alliance beat the best alliance.

We went to three regionals this year, but at the Los Angeles regional, we only took our girls. Multiple regionals mean more opportunities for more members to drive, work the pits, etc. Same robot, different team. More experience for more people.

FIRST will never be a equal-for-all competition. That's the fun of it. Someday we may beat the "best".

Allan