Week 5 brings warm weather and the Peacthree Regional to the real Atlanta. For the first time since 2010, the Georgia World Congress Center will play host to 65 teams for a good game of Aerial [strike] Assault[/strike] Assist.
1261 is not-so-fresh off their win in Palmetto. Week 1 treated them well, and their occasional two-ball autonomous, followed by a consistent high-goal shot, caught a lot of their opponents off guard. If they can stay frosty in week 5, they may walk into St. Louis with two blue banners.
Speaking of Palmetto, 2974 almost took home the gold in Myrtle Beach with their excellent scouting and killer defense. They had to settle for the Engineering Inspiration Award, but maybe this time, they can break out of their offensive shell and take home the gold.
2415 joined the party in week 3 at Dallas, and maybe one of these years, they’ll actually get going in their first event. This year, their robot may have exited early in the Quarterfinals at Dallas, but they were able to work out a lot of issues and will come into Peachtree looking to show that they are the number one team in the southeast.
If there’s a party, we can’t forget our friends from the south. we’re not just talking about 79, who, with a reliable intake and a decent shooter, went home a win shy of a blue banner in Orlando, but also 2283, who took the gold in the first ever Mexico City Regional.
In 2008, 1771 sucked so much they won the National Creativity Award. This year, 1771-incarnate (read: 4509), is going back to its roots and is a real blast from the past. If they manage to avoid the first-regional wrinkles, 4509 could be going to the finals for the second year in a row at Peachtree.
It’ll be hard to count how many teams Team JVN has inspired, but if we had to start at the Peachtree Regional, teams **108 **and 1746 would be close to the top of that list. Both teams sport robots that perfectly implement the concepts behind the three day build, and if they can replicate their practice-field successes, both of these teams may be playing well into Saturday afternoon.
But the list of remarkable teams doesn’t stop there. With 1319, 832, 4026, and 3318 heading up a list of Peachtree Regional regulars, this event promises to be more of a head turner than anything we may have seen since the regional’s founding.
All in all, there are six spots to St. Louis, and with four wildcards in play, it may seem like it’s easier to sneak a ticket to the big show, but with a game where defensive robots can shut down powerhouses and rankings don’t matter, the Peachtree Regional promises to be one hell of a ride.
- FRC 1648 Scouting and Strategy