There were memorable moments at all the events I attended, including Atlanta, but this year but something in particular at the Midwest regional.
During our lunch break before our quarter final against 71, 1114, and 1000, our alliance (2041,1732, 1652) met to come up with a strategy. We devised a plan that involved us running empty cells the whole match. Our plan was so elaborate we even discussed a system of checking in and out of certain regions of the field so that we would not get in each others way. As for our part in the plan, it turns out we were really bad running empty cells. That kinda happens when you wait to try something for the first time in the elimination rounds.
Needless to say, we lost our first match of the quarterfinals. It was at this time Jeff from 1114 says to me "That was some great defense you were running." It turns out we were so bad at carrying out our offensive objective, it was perceived as good defensive play. I then turn to the drive team from 1732 and we had a quick discussion that went something like this:
1732: "well, that didn't work"
Me: "Yeah it seems team 1000 focused more on defense than on running empty cells"
1732: "How about this, we will pin 1114. We think you and 1652 together might outscore 71"
And with that, the next two matches were ours. It was cool to see such exhilaration in every member of that alliance. But its not just the moment of triumph that sticks out, its that whole string of events. The frantic effort to prepare for the huge burden ahead, the unintended blow to the ego, and the effort to rework things as we go along all stick out in my mind. To me, it was a microcosm of the whole FIRST experience within the span of an hour or two.
On a side note, I was shocked how many members of 71 and 1114 came up to congratulate us shortly after the upset. Those teams are pure class all the way.