2013 Finger Lakes Regional

[LeelandS]

Ooookay. As a mentor of a local team who is able to get back to a computer quickly (like Sean and Garrick), I'll through my hat into the annual congratulation fest that follows every Finger Lakes Regional. You can read through them all or just look for a particular one:

1507/2809/578: Playing you guys in the Quarter finals was terrifying. 1507, off of two regional wins the prior year, is probably the scariest FLR team right now, field-wise. 2809, despite early issues, had grown into one of the main scoring machines and they had a winning drive train from Day 1. 578... We were sure 578 messed us up BAD. Their defense tore a bumper off our robot and completely wrecked 3003's drive system, forcing us to use our time out (something I HATE to do in the QFs) and almost call a back up. You guys were insane. I was terrified it was almost over in the QFs, before it even begun.

3173/250/378: Cam and I from 3173 are friends. So when we came head to head in the SFs, we shook hands and fist bumped and wished each other luck. But when I got back to the driver station, I was a nervous wreck, because I knew 3173 was going to be an absolute mountain to climb. In the first SF match, they scored about 25 discs. That's 75 points. FROM THE FEEDER STATION. CROSS COURT. OVER THE FIELD. INTO THE TOP GOAL. Tell me that wouldn't scare you. They wrecked us. Everyone told me that was a contender for match of the year. 103-102, favor them. It was insane. 250 and 378 weren't sitting on their hands either. 250 brushed off some cobwebs and was shooting long range as well, and was the perfect complement to 3173. 378 plays some hard defense that shut us down for a while. It was crazy. So proud of 3173, though. They're a young team I (as a student from 1126) helped out years ago. And look at them now. Fantastic. Just fantastic.

48/145: These matches. 48 is a legend in the FRC community. It seems everywhere they go, they always have a performance in the finals. This time was no different. For a robot that mainly shot for the 2pt goal, 48 was a force to be reckoned with. I never want to be on the opposite side of the field of 48. Because they honestly scare the crap out of me. But one of their drive team members dances a mean Harlem Shake. 145 was one of the top scoring robots at FLR. They were a sharp shooter and hit their shots like it was their job. It was scary when, in the second Finals match, they did exactly what I knew they would do. They all put down a new strategy and almost shook us out. We came out by one point. I was legitimately shaking, it was so close.

1126: My old team. The team I grew up on, was raised by. And I had to team with them in Q73, and then I had to look at them across the field in the finals. It was an emotional roller coaster. But it's how I wanted it to come down the whole time. I love 1126 to death and I knew that no matter how the match ended, we would all hug it out and congratulate each other. It just happened that my alliance did. By a very small margin: 1 point in the last match. I'm pretty sure I shook hands and/or hugged everyone in a SparX shirt today. It was an honor to face them, and to play them in such amazing matches.

3003: Our first pick. Did not disappoint at all. Tan[X] had a rough start, with some drive issues, but over came them and were ready to resume an offensive role quickly. They have a great drive team, and Steve Schlegel (another 1126 alumni) is a brilliant strategist. It was an honor to work with them and help them get their first ever regional win!

1559: I'm no stranger to Devil Tech. I faced off with them in 2011 as a member of 1126's drive team at Buckeye. This time, I got to work with them. We picked them for their offensive threat. And then they showed us their 30 point hanger. We just let them do their thing and they did not fail (until 48 did what I would call the gutsiest move ever, drove under our tower, and pushed them out). Their 30 point contribution plus their consistent autonomous saved our bacon many times. I thank them for being a great partner and team mate.

Thanks to everyone who made this an amazing regional. It was a blast. Being part of the winning alliance was like a dream, and having Karthik do the intros (and call me out) was phenomenal.

It was nice to meet some FRC people who I've only known over the internet. Gregor of 907 and Aaron of 77WHO? were awesome to meet in person for realsies.

See you all next year! I'm off to party with 1126

P.S. If you read this, Karthik. You owe me something! We won the event, now keep up your half of the bargain!!