2012 Greater Kansas City Regional

[treffk]

I just wanted to say congratulations to all the teams on a great 3 day event. Although I was stuck in my LEGO land Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, when I was walking through the pits and watching the matches I was amazed on how well this event ran and how the teams functioned.

I would also like to say a big thanks to team 1710. Although they did not compete this weekend they were a huge help in running the FLL area.

If anyone had the time to make it over to the FLL area either Friday or Saturday I greatly welcome your thoughts and comments on how it ran.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by waialua359

I wonder what happens if you win it twice.
I believe there was a team last year that won it twice at different regional events. 10k?

I think you are limited to CMP registration costs, but then I freely admit that I am guessing.

I agree with Aaron, the KC Regional was a very well-run event, at least "as seen on TV". And I've been to a few.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

... I've been to a few.

I have, too. I was as KC and can attest that it was a very well run event. Two of FIRST's finest FTAs and a great team of key volunteers made it run nearly flawlessly.

There was one bit of excitement just before lunchtime on Saturday, when we saw the Head Ref and both FTAs dashing from the field to the back of the pits, to fetch a critical item from the spares case. Sparing the technical details, they solved a problem that involved multiple part failures and required the back-up scoring table bridge -- the delay of 45 minutes was recovered by pushing quickly through the last six qualifying matches (with no further troubles) and shortening lunch by 15 minutes, so eliminations and the awards ceremony ran exactly on schedule.

Congratulations to the technical staff and volunteers who made it all work. I will be glad the next time I get the opportunity to come to GKC.

[USSMISSOURI]

Originally Posted by Alpha Beta

A big thanks to 16 and 3784 for helping us win the regional. 16 has a unique way of playing the game involving bump transversal and quick ball pick-up that limited the oppositions offensive opportunities while giving us the room we needed to collect and score. 3784 was a steal with the 24th pick. In them we got 10 points of auto and 10 points on the bridge. Major props to the scouts for finding this gem of a 24th pick.


See you all at Champs.

Thanks for picking us again, see you at Champs!

[Grim Tuesday]

Wow! I almost feel like I know the local teams, having watched this regional on webcast for 3 hours Thursday and Friday, and 8 hours on Saturday. It seemed incredibly well run, with no major field field delays. There was a good MC, a fantastic DJ, and a great field of competitors. I tabbed away to watch Gull Lake for a little bit: Did anyone ever win the novelty size check? Congrats to 16, 3784, and 1986.

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by USSMISSOURI

Thanks for picking us again, see you at Champs!

Over the last 5 years the KC regional has had a history of the winning alliance always containing one member of the previous year's winning alliance. (That is not exactly why we picked you, but...) You are now a part of that tradition.

2007 Winners: 935, 1775, 1997 (#1 Alliance)
2008 Winners: 476, 1802, 1806 (#8 Alliance)
2009 Winners: 931, 1208, 1806 (#1 Alliance)
2010 Winners: 525, 931, 2345 (#1 Alliance)
2011 Winners: 525, 1730, 1984, 3784 (#1 Alliance)
2012 Winners: 16, 1986, 3784 (#1 Alliance)

No team has ever won the KC regional a third time. No team has captained the winning alliance two years in a row. Truely a very deep regional loaded with talent.

PS. This was our 5th time in the elimination rounds, and first time getting past the semi-finals. In fact it is the first time we've every qualified for the Championship Event at our first event.

[Jaxom]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

Did anyone ever win the novelty size check? Congrats to 16, 3784, and 1986.

Yeah, but they kept moving the contestants closer & closer. By the time it was claimed they were almost close enough that I(*) could have actually hit the backboard from the same distance.


* Let's just say that no one would ever mistake me for someone that should be in the NBA, a 5th-grade recreational league, or anything in between.

[Meredith Novak]

Thank you to the GKC planning committee, volunteers and competitors for a wonderful 2012 event.

Congratulations to our alliance partners: 1986, it was such an honor to get to play alongside your outstanding team. Thank you for selecting us. 3784, wow, just wow. You made some scouts very happy - and look pretty good. Thank you!

Also, congratulations to:
1108 on your 7th RCA - you are a joy to behold;
1986 for the well-deserved EI (and a dean's list finalist - what an event for your team!);
2012 GKC WFFA Peter Speer, Team Driven, 1730 - what a great addition to this elite group

Special thanks to our good friends, 1806 - SWAT, for the spare parts. It's not the first time you have assisted the Bomb Squad. I guess the Bomb Squad and the SWAT team should have a natural bond. Please know how much we value your friendship and enjoy knowing you and working with your great team.

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by Alpha Beta

PS. This was our 5th time in the elimination rounds, and first time getting past the semi-finals. In fact it is the first time we've every qualified for the Championship Event at our first event.

We'll try to make it harder for you in STL !

P.S: I was wondering if anyone from team titanium would be willing to trade T-Shirts at the St. Louis Reigonal. I would be honored if so.

[Alpha Beta]

FYI: On the shooter versus the catapult versus the other debate...

Our scouts had the following robots as the top 6 offensive scorers. (Not in rank order.)

16 - Catapult
935 - Catapult
1208 - Under wheeled shooter (hood ?)
1825 - Under wheeled hooded shooter
1986 - Under wheeled hooded shooter
3528 - Scissor lift dumper

Really shocked that 1825 went so late in alliance selections.

Thrilled to see it split 50:50 between wheeled shooters and other types. For those who think this game doesn't allow for variety in designs...

Several other great designs that will be very dangerous at their second regional with a little tweaking.

[kdehaan42]

I would just like to say it wasn't 3784 on the bridge with bomb squad it was team 2874 the Eagles out of Grain Valley

[CalTran]

I made a different thread for general improvements, but I have one question that is rather Greater Kansas City specific. As you may have noticed, our team was quite active in the spirit department, but simply got outcheered by 2996, Cougars gone Wired. They certainly deserved the award, and now our team is looking into improving for Oklahoma. Thus, I come to the teams who were also at GKC for advice on what you think our team did correctly for team spirit and what you think our team should improve upon. Thank you.

[Zephyr Foxworth]

Thanks to everybody at the event this weekend, and congrats once again to the winning Alliance. We had a blast this year, especially since we had a bunch of team firsts this year.

After getting our highest qualification ranking in our team history (10th), we were able to pick our own Alliance for the first time. We also had an organized scouting system for once this year (developed by myself), although we weren't able to properly implement it into our Alliance picks.
This was my second year on the team, and as a senior, I regret not joining sooner.

There were some very exciting matches on Saturday, and I don't mean solely in the Elimination matches. Does anybody recall what match had the robot nearly tip over, but got caught and corrected by its Alliance members? I remember the crowd went ballistic at that happening. We're looking to use that footage as part of a post-event meeting about teamwork, so any help would be appreciated.

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by Zephyr Foxworth

Thanks to everybody at the event this weekend, and congrats once again to the winning Alliance. We had a blast this year, especially since we had a bunch of team firsts this year.

After getting our highest qualification ranking in our team history (10th), we were able to pick our own Alliance for the first time. We also had an organized scouting system for once this year (developed by myself), although we weren't able to properly implement it into our Alliance picks.
This was my second year on the team, and as a senior, I regret not joining sooner.

There were some very exciting matches on Saturday, and I don't mean solely in the Elimination matches. Does anybody recall what match had the robot nearly tip over, but got caught and corrected by its Alliance members? I remember the crowd went ballistic at that happening. We're looking to use that footage as part of a post-event meeting about teamwork, so any help would be appreciated.

First off, thanks for picking our team as your alliance partner! (and thanks to 1825!)

I know that 2410 was the team that put its alliance partners back on their feet, if that helps. And they were the red alliance. Was it possibly match 82 with 2410, 1806, and 3764? Edit: yep, it was match 82, found here: http://www.more.net/content/2012-qualification-matches

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Nemo

I know that 2410 was the team that put its alliance partners back on their feet, if that helps. And they were the red alliance. Was it possibly match 82 with 2410, 1806, and 3764? Edit: yep, it was match 82, found here: http://www.more.net/content/2012-qualification-matches

Yes indeed, it was us who, noticing both of our alliance members appeared to be entangled within one another, simply rammed into Guardians of Greene and SWAT collectively to upright 1806. I also concur how wild the stands went once we untipped SWAT team. That was one of the highlights for our team and a proving ground for my thoughts on the merits of our chosen drivetrain this year. (4 wheel wide configuration with 8" rubber tread wheels)