Suffield Shakedown 2016

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by MarcD79

Don't forget, we are building a robot at the same time & have a small team.
Forgive me for ranting, but I just had to get this off my chest. I still love doing the Scrimmage & I don't have to.

I was concerned on Friday night that it would be a mess. The orphan status that the Shakedown seems to have incurred is difficult to understand.

The event went quite well. Teams got to play on a reasonable facsimile of the Stronghold field. Many local teams contributed ALL of the defenses needed. Sure, they slid around on the floor at times and were ripped apart at others, but that made it fun to talk about "damaging" the Outer Works.

The 5-minute matches allowed teams to repeatedly execute their game plans without watching the clock. This was invaluable.
I wonder how many other scrimmages offered this opportunity?

So many drive teams got substantial experience with their new toys.
Mechanisms went through a Shakedown cruise, drivetrains were punished, alliances began to play well with their partners.

Insights into the game were revealed.

Aces High has put on this event in Suffield for over 15 years. I think the vast majority of teams who have attended feel sincere gratitude for the service that 176 has provided.

Our Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Wyman has attended every year that I can remember. Senator Richard Blumenthal also made another appearance today. They both understand the importance of FIRST and the significance of the Suffield Shakedown as a seminal event for the each and every one of the past 15 seasons.