Toughest regional?

[XaulZan11]

It's easy to name the top 3 teams at a regional and cite it as the toughest regional, but I think the depth of a regional is equally important. Midwest was mentioned a couple of times in this thread. While it probably has the biggest group of elite teams at the top each year (16, 71, 111, 1625, featuring appearences within the past 3 years by 1114, 217, 118, 148), its been extremely shallow the last two years to the point where the top 3 seeds almost have first round byes.

Wisconsin and Midwest both the same week has really hurt Midwest's already lacking depth. 148 is a new addition but 45, 118, 1675, 1732, 2041, and 2826 won't be there this year.

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

1. Connecticut Regional - There is is some seriously sick depth at this regional.

CT will be a brawl this year. 39 of the 62 teams have been around since 2006. Say what you will about the game similarities, the fact remains that over 60% of the regional attendees have a LOT of experience, and that's before you even consider the impressive list of perennial powerhouses in attendance. 118's even making the trek out from Texas to throw their name in the pool.

[plnyyanks]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

1. Connecticut Regional - There is is some seriously sick depth at this regional.

This. Every year, there's some really intense competition (and 1124 has won it 4 out of the last 6 years). It's also very veteran laden - about 75% of teams attending have a team number under 3000.

[Nick Lawrence]

Waterloo, CVR, MSC and MAR Championships.

IRI is in a league of it's own.

-Nick

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

It's easy to name the top 3 teams at a regional and cite it as the toughest regional, but I think the depth of a regional is equally important. Midwest was mentioned a couple of times in this thread. While it probably has the biggest group of elite teams at the top each year (16, 71, 111, 1625, featuring appearences within the past 3 years by 1114, 217, 118, 148), its been extremely shallow the last two years to the point where the top 3 seeds almost have first round byes.

Wisconsin and Midwest both the same week has really hurt Midwest's already lacking depth. 148 is a new addition but 45, 118, 1675, 1732, 2041, and 2826 won't be there this year.

Midwest has been hurt the past few years by having either Wisconsin or Boilermaker or both on the same week and drawing away good teams from them. That's why this year Midwet is actually Queen City because alot of those teams are going there all at once instead.

[Koko Ed]

What I don't understand is why do people keep listing GTR or Waterloo as a tough regional. It's the most predictable regionals out there. It's 1114 and 2056 hooking up with some lucky third team who'll they'll carry to a blue banner and they sweep through the elims. It's been that way for years. It aint gonna change.

[ghostmachine360]

Originally Posted by santosh

I think that peachtree this year will be a clash of the titans

Could be, with Metal-in-Motion returning to Peachtree; plus you guys at Westminister, North STARS, Walton, Kell, CircuitRunners Robotics (looking to make a comeback), FLASH, Los Pollos Locos, and RoboLions.

[akoscielski3]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

What I don't understand is why do people keep listing GTR or Waterloo as a tough regional. It's the most predictable regionals out there. It's 1114 and 2056 hooking up with some lucky third team who'll they'll carry to a blue banner and they sweep through the elims. It's been that way for years. It aint gonna change.

Exactly my point. Its extremely hard to win if you aren't 2056 or 1114.

[JosephC]

IRI, MSC, Championships.. That sounds about right.

Regionals only though,

1. Connecticut
2. Midwest
3. Central Valley

[iVanDuzer]

GTR East has the potential to be an absolute fireshow this year. In addition to 1114 and 2056, 781 is also coming out after a regional win and championship finalist last year. 610 and 188 were division finalists last year with 469 and lost to the eventual Champs in 3 matches. And 548, who made a big splash in Michigan last year, is coming out to play. You can't say that none of last year's success is going to blow over to this year. If any of these teams build a robot like last year's then the whole game is blown wide open. And this is ignoring the mid-tier teams that are also at GTRE.

It's been that way for years. It aint gonna change.

If any year is going to change that, it'll be this year. All it will take is for someone to seed higher than 1114 or 2056. It's a tall order, sure, but there are teams here that can do it (heck, 188 came this close to doing it in both 2009 and 2010). And if it does happen, all bets are off.

[akoscielski3]

Originally Posted by Nuttyman54

CT will be a brawl this year. 39 of the 62 teams have been around since 2006. Say what you will about the game similarities, the fact remains that over 60% of the regional attendees have a LOT of experience, and that's before you even consider the impressive list of perennial powerhouses in attendance. 118's even making the trek out from Texas to throw their name in the pool.

I remember when we went in 2008 as the only Canadian Team. I'm not sure how far we got but i know 1124 won. That was such a fun regional too. Idk if you remember us being there but we were the very bright orange team
best memory from that regional was our robot doing chin-ups on the overpass because of another robot hitting ours during autonomous . and Dean signed our robot

[Marjory Frosty]

MSC is by far the hardest competition I've seen in my 13 year in FIRST.... Especially the last two year, I can't wait to see what this year brings!!!

Koko Ed - can't wait for you to come see how much fun we have here!!!

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by akoscielski3

Exactly my point. Its extremely hard to win if you aren't 2056 or 1114.

That's not tough. That's predictable. The antitheses of tough.

[akoscielski3]

Originally Posted by iVanDuzer

GTR East has the potential to be an absolute fireshow this year. In addition to 1114 and 2056, 781 is also coming out after a regional win and championship finalist last year. 610 and 188 were division finalists last year with 469 and lost to the eventual Champs in 3 matches. And 548, who made a big splash in Michigan last year, is coming out to play. You can't say that none of last year's success is going to blow over to this year. If any of these teams build a robot like last year's then the whole game is blown wide open. And this is ignoring the mid-tier teams that are also at GTRE.


If any year is going to change that, it'll be this year. All it will take is for someone to seed higher than 1114 or 2056. It's a tall order, sure, but there are teams here that can do it (heck, 188 came this close to doing it in both 2009 and 2010). And if it does happen, all bets are off.

Yes this is definitely the year it WILL happen. I have been taking to other teams that are going to GTR West with us, (we arent going to east or waterloo) coming up with strategies and helping each other out with the designing.

188 is probably the 3rd best team their. 1503 is right behind them. there are tons of teams at the 3 Ontario regional that are highly competitive. All that needs to happen is get 1114 and 2056 apart, then game on.

The toughest regional is the one where everyone helps each other and acts graciously professional.