[Mike Soukup]

I agree with Ken, Tom, and whoever else said this game is hard. Fitting a good ball magnet and kicker into a package that can either fit through the tunnel or climb the bumps is not an easy challenge. I have seen many traditional powerhouse teams struggle at their first & second events and get whipped in the eliminations in what some would consider an upset if they were just looking at team numbers. I have also seen the rise of a few teams at WI & IL that have built simple machines that focused on excellent ball control and an efficient kicker: 706, 1732, 2949.

That said, what is wrong with traditional powerhouse vets dominating? I had a lengthy discussion with some of the mentors from 2358 after they beat us in the eliminations on Saturday. We were talking about their first year in the program and the struggles they had and how much they've improved since then. I was reminded of the struggles that 111 had during our first season in 1996 and how my jaw hit the floor when at our first competition I saw the team from Nashua effortlessly scoop up big & small balls and place them in the goal. Sure, it was disappointing when our robot couldn't even make it through an entire match without the drivetrain failing, but it was also uplifting to talk to these elite teams and have them offer suggestions to fix our problems. It's experiences like these, seeing the cream of the crop up close, talking to them about their designs, and learning from them, that give the young teams the motivation and inspiration to become a powerhouse in a few years.