FAHA: FiM - 3rd Event Quandary

[ManicMechanic]

A related question, not specific to FiM.

What are some options (along with advantages and disadvantages for these options) for an event where some teams are eligible to advance, but others are not? We run a regional event for local high school teams, who can advance, but there are some teams at the local junior college that would like to participate, and they cannot take an advancing spot. From a participation point of view, we could really use the college teams -- our event had only 12 HS teams this year (max capacity of 24), and we only got that many because some teams "doubled" themselves (threw together an extra robot) at the last minute. Even 2 more teams would be good, and 10 more would be better.

At this moment, the jr. college teams are less advanced than the high school ones. They don't want to compete at the college level (which is could be an option), because it requires out of state travel. The local high schools and college are all within 30 minutes of each other, which is much more convenient for them.

What seems most practical to me would be to let them participate in both qualifying and elimination rounds, and allow them to win alliance awards. However, when it comes time to advance, strike the college teams from the advancing list, and fill any empty spots with next-in-line award winners.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.