2014 10,000 Lakes Regional

[Tom Ore]

Originally Posted by MrBydlon

No 525 Swartdogs is a pretty big change.

We'll miss 10K for sure. We're going to Queen City this week instead (10K was full.) Looking forward to meeting lots of new teams.

[SteveB2977]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but three teams are from Wisconsin - all three are part of the 7 Rivers Robotics Coalition.

4021 - IgKnighton from Onalaska (WI) Luther HS - former Rookie All Star winner
5003 - Topperbotics from Onalaska (WI) HS
5019 - Gearbox Heroes from West Salem (WI) HS

[MrBydlon]

Originally Posted by SteveB2977

Sorry to burst your bubble, but three teams are from Wisconsin - all three are part of the 7 Rivers Robotics Coalition.

4021 - IgKnighton from Onalaska (WI) Luther HS - former Rookie All Star winner
5003 - Topperbotics from Onalaska (WI) HS
5019 - Gearbox Heroes from West Salem (WI) HS

I thought there were some WI teams... But I was too lazy to look it up. Haha.

Thanks Steve!

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by SteveB2977

Sorry to burst your bubble, but three teams are from Wisconsin - all three are part of the 7 Rivers Robotics Coalition.

4021 - IgKnighton from Onalaska (WI) Luther HS - former Rookie All Star winner
5003 - Topperbotics from Onalaska (WI) HS
5019 - Gearbox Heroes from West Salem (WI) HS

You mean 3 teams from East Minnesota, right

[Kingland093]

4215 is excited to be back at 10k for the first time since our rookie year!

[CLandrum3081]

3081 is excited for 10K this year. We had a ball at WI (wow, I don't even have to try to make bad puns now), and are prepared for 10,000 Lakes. Wisconsin had some tough competition, and we were happy to be in the top 10 for most of the weekend and the top half for the whole thing. Our final ranking was our best ever in a regional despite the intensity, so look out, Minneapolis.

In all seriousness, I hope 10K will be free from the problems that have plagued other regionals - inconsistent reffing, auto issues (timing of hot goal and disabling), pedestal lighting, etc. It'll be interesting to see how the regional plays out with 525 and 3018 not around. It was a pleasure to play with 3018 in Wisconsin (heck, we played with AND against them in different matches!), and I'll miss that opportunity with 525, considering we took home a blue banner with 525 at our side in 2012 and played with them in two regionals in 2013.

With 525 and 3018 unable to attend 10K due to the event being full, it does raise the question of when MN will have five regionals. From what I understand, this is due to a lack of available volunteers. I'll have to change that after I graduate.

I'm personally most excited to see 3313 and 2052 - teams with consistently well-designed and well-made robots I'm going to enjoy the opportunity to play with/against.

Hopefully we won't have Thursday rule updates this week. It doesn't give teams or referees enough time to adjust accordingly. I even think Tuesday pushes it, but that's another rant for another day. The refereeing at Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday was like night and day - as a result, the gameplay was, too. The play always gets rougher throughout a weekend just like in sports, but it's the referees' job to be consistent and not let things fly once they start happening. Otherwise, we don't know what rules will be enforced on Saturday in eliminations. Granted, the referees have far too much on their plate this year, so I'll cut them some much-deserved slack.

Overall, I expect this to be a fun event with plenty of surprises in store. Who will win the RCA? What wildcard slots will be generated? How will teams who played in previous regionals (or who haven't and planned for the rules released January 4) adjust to whatever changes come out on Tuesday/Thursday/some other day that could have been earlier?

[Tyler Olds]

I always look forward to returning to this event each year. Great city, great people, and great competition! See you all on Friday!

[CLandrum3081]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I always look forward to returning to this event each year. Great city, great people, and great competition! See you all on Friday!

Looking forward to having you. You're my mom's (and my) favorite MC.

[Bruce Newendorp]

We will definitely miss seeing everyone in Williams Arena this week. We have either been there or across the street every year since the inaugural Minnesota Regional in 2008 so it will be strange to not be there this year. It's been great to watch the teams grow from rookies in the early years to veterans now. We definitely need more regional capacity in the upper Midwest. How about having one in Iowa? Maybe that can happen in the future.
Other than the long bus ride, we are looking forward to Queen City and seeing old friends we have played with in the past in the St. Louis and Kansas City Regionals. We are also looking forward to meeting new teams and making new friends.
Good luck to all at 10,000 Lakes! I'm sure we will see some of you in St. Louis.

[Neima]

Only a couple days away and 3082 can't wait to participate! Here is a little look into what we have.

[mildew999]

Originally Posted by Neima

Only a couple days away and 3082 can't wait to participate! Here is a little look into what we have.

I always loved that name, Chicken Bot Pie

See you in the pits at 10K, I'll be pit announcer most of Thursday and all day Friday

[Richie_Richter]

Team 2502 is excited to be at 10,000 lakes again this year! We've been working really hard making improvements to our robot since Duluth. Robot reliability has been our biggest focus, because we had a little trouble with that in the qualifying matches in Duluth. Can't wait to see all the great robots this weekend!

Good luck to everyone!

[Neima]

Originally Posted by mildew999

I always loved that name, Chicken Bot Pie

See you in the pits at 10K, I'll be pit announcer most of Thursday and all day Friday

Thanks! I can't wait to see 2052's robot in action this year in person! I hope we will have the chance to play with you guys this year too. good luck!

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by CLandrum3081

With 525 and 3018 unable to attend 10K due to the event being full, it does raise the question of when MN will have five regionals. From what I understand, this is due to a lack of available volunteers. I'll have to change that after I graduate.

I'm tempted to bet we'll be going to Districts before we get a fifth regional, and the Districts will be in MN in 2016 or 2017 (I haven't heard nearly enough buzz for it to happen next year).

[nfhammes]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

I'm tempted to bet we'll be going to Districts before we get a fifth regional, and the Districts will be in MN in 2016 or 2017 (I haven't heard nearly enough buzz for it to happen next year).

Yeah, Districts in MN isn't happening next year. 2016 or 2017 would be well within reason, but I would bet we get a fifth Minnesota regional first. We may be almost at the state's current carrying capacity for teams, but we're going to get a lot of additional pressure as states around us go to districts before us, both from their teams looking for out-of-state play, and from Michigan teams having fewer nearby options.

Unless we see an Iowa regional in the very near future. But I honestly don't know how likely that is. The FRC community in the state is certainly growing close to the number of required teams.