Top 5 new members to FIRST's Top Tier in your state/region

[Theseusgoats]

Originally Posted by Peyton Yeung

Woot! Lots of Finalist and EI medals (7 of each) at our shop and we hope to bring home gold in the coming years.

Well obviously I didn't know the extent of your success, you guys really are top tier.

[michael5402]

Originally Posted by Theseusgoats

For Indiana Teams (I am assuming that new members into top tier illicit low experience...)

1) 4982 (Olympus Robotics): Consistent high performer last year and this year. 4th seed 1st pick at Tippecanoe going to the semifinals and 3rd seed alliance captains going to the finals at Walker Warren. Performed poorly, for their standards, at state due to some minor shooting issues and poor qualification matchups but still 1st pick for 7th seed alliance.

2) 4103 (Roborioles): Poor performance last year but really came through this year becoming the 2nd seed alliance captains at Walker Warren and State championships, and finally won their first event at state, taking them to Championships.

3) 5188 (Classified Robotics): Although a somewhat poor performance this year (didn't qualify for state), they were a dominant powerhouse team last year, going to Championships due to the district system.

4) 5403 (Aluminosity): Even though they usually aren't considered a powerhouse, they have performed decently well for a 2nd year team both this year and last.

5) Tie between 5484 (Memento Vitam), 4926 (GalacTech) 5010 (Tiger Dynasty), and others

Honorable Mentions:
3947 (Last Crusaders): Not exactly up and coming as they have a few years of experience in them

3494 (Quadrangles): Again, not exactly up and coming but they were pretty good last year, not so well this year due to some drive train issues

I think you left out 5402 somewhere in there. Even though we did not do as well this year due to losing two very good mentors. We were finalist 3 times last year(Kokomo, Purdue, and state) and only rookie team in the world to make it to champs on merit and not rookie all-star. Even if we would not have had our 10 rookie points we still would have made it to champs.

[Theseusgoats]

Originally Posted by michael5402

I think you left out 5402 somewhere in there. Even though we did not do as well this year due to losing two very good mentors. We were finalist 3 times last year(Kokomo, Purdue, and state) and only rookie team in the world to make it to champs on merit and not rookie all-star. Even if we would not have had our 10 rookie points we still would have made it to champs.

Sorry, I completely forgot about you guys. Definetly contender s, up there with 5403.

[Thayer McCollum]

I'll give my list of top tier Colorado teams:

1619 (They take the crown without a doubt. They have dominated the Colorado Regional for two years straight and delivered consistently excellent robots for many years before that)
In my opinion the other teams listed below are all on about an equal level
4499 (My cross town buddies)
2996 (Rockin' the yellow and red)
1410 (With potentially the best name in Colorado, THE KRAKEN!)
662 (Our next door pit buddies)

Teams I expect to see on this list next year:

1339 (Who honestly deserve the imagery award every year)
159 (We're getting there) (We went to CMP *almost* every year from 1998-2011 and haven't been since We intend to fix that.)
4944 (Gimme a high five)
4388 (ALSO my cross town buddies)
There are plenty of other teams who deserve to be on this list (probably more than my team... I'm just trying to make myself feel good...) and so if you think my list of Colorado teams is wrong just point it out.

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by Ben Martin

My picks for MAR:

5) 1257 won two competitions and was a finalist and #1 seed at a third this year, through low goals and defense. They have the fire and passion to do well.

Originally Posted by Jscout11

My picks for MAR over the past couple years:
A couple years back these teams were all pretty solid but over the last couple of years have certainly grown to become a part of the top tier of FIRST

For 2016 specifically:

• 1257

Originally Posted by bobby5150

2. 2791 - Perhaps the most beautiful robot in New York, Shaker reached the top level of play this season, sinking 7-8 high goals in tele plus a 20 point auto multiple times between FLR and TVR. Though this isn't their first powerful robot (2013, 2014), this is probably their first time breaking into the true "Top Tier" of FIRST.

Thank you for your kind words. While 1257 and 2791 are different in many ways, they share a strong drive to field the best robot possible and build on their previous successes.

I am not yet well enough acquainted with upstate New York to comment, but a number of New Jersey teams have really impressed me with their recent improvement (in no particular):

1) 5895: it's rare to see a rookie captain a winning alliance, but Peddie School Robotics pulled it off, and was a captain and first pick at their two other events. They've done a truly impressive job leveraging their resources to build an elegant machine with a killer batter shot. With a 20 point auto, they can score as many as seven boulder in the high goal. Do not let their rookie status fool you; they know what they're doing.

2) 5624: twice-bannered this season, Tiger Tech has won two events as the first pick of the seventh alliance. As a second-year team, they are in MAR's top tier of low-goalers. Few can damage the tower like 5624; in fact, no one else in Archimedes can, as they lead the subdivision in tower damage (based on component OPR). Despite their low-goal prowess, they went unpicked at MAR Champs due to overvaluation of shooters and climbers. If you want a strong low goal robot to secure the capture, 5624 is the way to go.

3) 3314: although they haven't earned a banner this season, the Mechanical Mustangs came awfully close at MAR Champs, captaining the finalist #3 alliance. With their 20 point auto, they can sink as many as seven high goals from nearly anywhere in the courtyard. This year, they've built a fine machine, and will be a force to be reckoned with at Champs.

4) 869: with their accurate batter shot and scale, Powercord has had an impressive showing this year. They were either a captain or first pick at all four of their events so far. They have built a powerful robot this year, and I was surprised to see them not make finals this year. They also have developed quite the outreach program, especially considering how small their team is, taking home their first Chairman's Award in Bridgewater.

5) 1989: as a quarterfinalist alliance captain at both their district events, Viking Robotics has had one of their best years yet. Although they narrowly qualified for MAR Champs, once they got there, they killed it. They earned the #7 alliance captain spot by scoring up to seven high goals a match. While they were not able to make it out of quarters, they accrued enough district points to earn their first invite to Champs since 2008.

After I wrote this list, it immediately occurred to me that I missed 1923, who certainly deserve a mention. Last year the MidKnight Inventors took home District Chairman's and Regional Engineering Inspiration Awards, giving them a chance to win Curie with 1114 and 148 and reach Einstein. Winning one of this year's MAR District Championship Chairman's Award, they are one of the most gracious teams I've had the pleasure of working with in FIRST. Their robot this year is a solid low goal cycler that was the first pick of the second alliance at Mount Olive. They have an inspiring drive for excellence on and off the field.

Every year, I'm impressed by the level of play in MAR, and am excited to see these teams and others continue to up the ante in years to come.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Not sure how to play this so I will start with the perennial Powerhouses in Minnesota (prior to 2016) first:

1816 - THE team in MN.
2052 - Since 2013 they have been the most dominant force in MN
2169 - The original powerhouse from MN
2175 - Twin Power with 3130 in MN*
2220 - Their work on the field only pales in comparison with their work off the field.
3130 - Twin Power with 2175 in MN*
*Both have qualified for Champs but are not competing in the MSHSL Tourney. How?

So that leaves the next to arrive:
5172 - Gators (Greenbush Middle River)
3102 - TNT (Nevis)
3026 - Orange Crush (Delano)
4009 - DNA (Duluth Denfeld)
5690 - SubZero (Esko)

[vikesrock777]

Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog

2175 - Twin Power with 3130 in MN*
3130 - Twin Power with 2175 in MN*
*Both have qualified for Champs but are not competing in the MSHSL Tourney. How?

Both had somewhat rough starts in Iowa (especially 2175). Because the MSHSL only counts your first event, their winning from rank 1 and 2 respectively at North Star means nothing for their qualification to state champs.

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by vikesrock777

Both had somewhat rough starts in Iowa (especially 2175). Because the MSHSL only counts your first event, their winning from rank 1 and 2 respectively at North Star means nothing for their qualification to state champs.

He understands how. He was commenting on the fact that they should be at States.

[natejo99]

In Michigan, I've been very impressed with 5460 and 5980. Both teams have been exceptional this year.

[tcjinaz]

Originally Posted by Rangel(kf7fdb)

You guys certainly did improve over the last few years! Along with other teams such as 991, 1165, and 3019. I'm pretty confident that all of you guys will be in what I believe to be the top tier of Arizona at some point. That being said, I don't think I would put you guys to be at the top just yet. That is of course just my opinion and everyone is free to disagree with me. I'm sure others would have completely different lists if asked.

Maybe now?

[NShep98]

Originally Posted by EmileH

As Dr. Joe said in this thread, across many districts, new teams are entering FIRST's top tier. I'd like to showcase those teams in this thread. I don't know much about other districts, but here are my picks for NE's best up-and coming teams:

1. 4564
2. 133
3. 1768
4. 4909
5. 5687

What are your favorite new members to the FRC Top Tier for other states/districts/regions? The teams you pick should be making it to elims or making it farther in elims than ever before.

To not mention 5813 on this thread would be an injustice imo

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by NShep98

To not mention 5813 on this thread would be an injustice imo

I was going to respond with that as well.

They built this impressive 254 clone as a pre-season project in the fall.

This season they were a very quick cycling machine at their events. The early weeks in New England were more focused on low goals but they demolished the upper level at their first event. They took each of their opening events to three semi-final matches falling short of the finals partially due to some unfortunate communication failures. Without those there is a good chance they would have had two banners under their belts. They even went as far as captaining their own alliance at the Championship on Galileo.

Very impressive year for Morpheus. They have one event left this season and I hope they can make it to the finals. That robot deserves a trophy.

[Lunitic2197]

For Michigan, as other people have already said 5460 has definitely been impressive. For other teams now joining the top tier of Michigan:

1. 217 - Yes, Chickens used to be top of the world, but with an exodus of several key mentors, they fell on some hard times with bad robots by their standards. The past 2 years have shown they are on the up and up again. This year they knocked out the first seed at MSC, as part of the 16th alliance, as well as emerged from the most competitive field at World's knocking out 16, 5172/67, and 1241/254 as the 7th Alliance. They have definitely pulled themselves back into Michigan's top tear.

2. 2771 - With 2 district wins and a early high score record (I don't believe was broken till week 7, correct me if I'm wrong) and a chairmen's, Code Red has shown that it deserves a spot in the top tear.

3. 5460 - Strike Zone was one of the better rookies in the state in 2015, and as a sophomore, they have only grown. Finalist at both district events and at MSC, they showed that they were a highly competitive team. Not to mention they were a captain on Carver beating out the next team in my top 5...

4. 2767 - After a good showing in 2015, they managed to win a district, and seat 1st at MSC this year, something that only 6 other teams have done (217 x2, 1023, 469, 1718, 1918 and 2054), all of whom spent a number of years in Michigan's top tear.

5. 3620 - The Average Joes have had a consistent upper-mid tier robot for the past few years, after this year I believe they have moved up to join the rest of the top tier, with a wins the past two years. As the 4th overall pick in Newton, they made into semi's and put up a strong fight against the 1st alliance of 1241/254.

[niklas674]

The big name in California as of recent has been 3250. Very impressive performances at Idaho and Chezy Champs. I'm sure they'll be even better at CCC next weekend.

Other teams to be mentoined are 5818, 5817, 5940, 649 and 5924. All of those teams are on the rise and I suspect will do great things in the near future.

[BenjiSG]

I would be careful about defining who would go into FIRST's overall "Top Tier." I think that there is significant enough a gap between a group of a few teams who are consistently on Einsteins and very nearly win/have won in many recent years and teams who do exceptionally well in their own regions and in individual World's fields but don't have the same Einstein's results as that initial top tier, aka FIRST's second highest tier of teams.

I would say that in NE, only 195, 125, and 1519 would really belong to that second tier of FIRST teams, with the teams you listed being 3rd tier teams who are on the edge of jumping up to 2nd tier but require more and better consistent results before they could really make it. 3rd tier teams would be more so defined by very strong local results, but a fall off on the international level. Teams like 4564 is certainly on the come up, but I believe it will take more years at the level of their more recent results for them to truly rise up into that 2nd tier.