2012 Virginia Regionl

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by JesseK

- The balls in Quals all had varying levels of ball squishiness ranging from really squishy to WTF squishy. Ironically the first 2 balls we were handed in Elims were as almost as hard as actual basketballs.

I know that game pieces are frustrating, but doesn't every team/alliance have to design/strategize around that variable?

- Inspections this year were the smoothest ever. It turned out to be a really great idea to put 2 inspectors in each aisle.

When your bumpers constantly need re-checking, you even get to be on a first-name basis with your inspector!

As for the RCA win:
Here's to all of the current students, ILITE alumni, current and former mentors who put in the thousands of hours required to make such an expansive program. You should be proud; it wouldn't have been possible without you!

Congratulations on the win. I had no clue how much you all did until I saw your video and met with your team for the last match. Great job.

I want to let everyone know that if we get allied with you, you'll have a hard time matching the quality of 346 and 1541. It's the greatest group of people in FIRST, outside of my team of course, that I have had the pleasure of working with. Sorry we couldn't help you win a blue banner this year 1541, but take Zooey wherever you can go, she's a bot to be proud of. 346, your communications problems should be under the bridge (game puns!) for DC, and I see you guys coming out of there with the big W.

Congrats to Stags, Sparky, and Robodawgs. You guys were awesome. Wish we could have gotten on the bridge in match 2 or not tipped in match 1 so we could have had a real go, but it is what it is.

To my teammates, mentors, our sponsors, and whoever is reading this, I'm so proud of the work you all have put into the team so far this season. When I challenged you all to put the best product possible on the court this year, I had no idea it would turn out to be the high-flying, wheelie-kicking, big-scoring masterpiece we call Orion (or internally, Operation RedPanda). We were bogged down with a tough seeding schedule, but you all held faith, cheered the whole team on, and were with us through incredible highs and lows this weekend. Shoutout to our driver who said to me during a match "Let me try something," then proceeded to pick up the front of the robot, and drive it forward onto the bridge. The new design capability of wheelie dropping made our weekend.

A special shoutout to an unexpected friend I made this year. See you in North Carolina, but first off, try to relax for a few days.

We have a secret project to make sure our robot stabilizes in the rankings and turns the Dorton Arena upside down in April with a high score and a big W to bring back to Richmond.

Attention teams 122, 339, 401, 435, 900, 1086, 2363, 2890 and all potential challengers from other regionals: we're waiting for you.