Hello all,
We’re down a man today-- Jacob is on a boat someplace hopefully sunny, and I spent a large part of the last couple days driving down and volunteering at the FTC North Super-Regional, which means today’s preview might be a bit lighter than usual (in addition to being late). One of the things I’d like to point out is that almost half the winners so far this year have been bringing home a Chairman’s Award for the first time. Compared to last year, this is a significant difference from last year-- only about 40% of last year’s winners were first-time winners, and most of the first timers last year were later in the season. It will be interesting to see if this pattern continues for the rest of the season.
**Australia **is going to be an interesting regional for Chairman’s-- 3132, who has influenced just about every team on the continent (and plenty off it), already won the award up in Northern Lights, which leaves it wide open to the many young teams at the event. It’s possible this Chairman’s award could go to teams from any of the three continents or six countries attending this competition.
Central Illinois has quite a few out of staters coming in in addition to fantastic local teams. Last year’s winners, 2039, will be looking to rock their way to another win, but there’s likely to be some stiff competition from out of staters-- in particular **2169 **is no doubt looking to bring home their sixth crown, and **2220 **is also likely to put on an excellent showing-- they’ve turned EI into RCA the next year before. Next up is 3528– another team that will be coming in looking for another win-- they brought home an RCA in 2014 but haven’t since.
Down at the **Bayou **Regional there are plenty of top notch teams gunning to take home the award. Last year’s winners, 3337, will be looking to defend their crown from the 2014 winners, 2080. Coming in from out of state, **3847 **will be looking to make waves on a different sort of spectrum as well. On the outside, **1912 **may be looking to reignite their four year streak at this event, but they’ll have some tough competition to get back in form.
The second New York regional (New York Tech Valley) in as many weeks has few perennial Chairman’s powerhouses but quite a few teams with scattered wins and a few perennial Engineering Inspiration winners. Among the latter category are 3990, who has brought home a couple of EI awards in the past three years. Similarly, **4481 **has won EI the last couple of years and might have a shot an RCA.
The **Buckeye **Regional Chairman’s Award has a history of going to teams from out of state, and judging by the lineup this year it’s likely that pattern will hold up. We’ve got 781, who brought home a pair of trophies in ‘13 and ‘14, looking for their first RCA stateside, and 217, who won it here in 2014, making a return trip. We also have a good amount of teams from MAR coming, the most promising of which is 303, who won an RCA at the 2014 District Championships. Another team from Ontario, 4039, will also be making the trip down, and they look like the only team here who took home an RCA last year.
**Utah **is another regional with a history of out-of-state teams winning-- this year that honor looks likely to go to a perennial from Texas, 2468, who would definitely appreciate a win after 1477 took home the award at Alamo. Other than them, the inaugural Australia regional Chairman’s winner, 3008, will be competing as well and could take it home. 4334, who won RCA at the 2014 Western Canada Regional, could also have a shot.
Districts will be a bit light:
CHS:
Northern Maryland:
First win at a regional last year, wants to power their way to the district championship: 1111
Likely anyone’s event: This one.
Hampton Roads:
Last win was in 2011, could they pull one off here?: 122
Now prepping for DCMP: 1885
Also light on old winners: This event
FiM:
Center Line:
Won a DCA last year, looking to repeat: 245
Three-time DCA winner looking to show they’re still explosive: 280
Looking forward to Chairman’s banner number 17: 503
Escanaba:
Took one home back in ‘14: 1711
Not many previous winners: This event
Midland:
Last brought one home in 2010, will they try again?: 226
Already won, prepping for District Champs: 3618
IN:
Walker-Warren:
Brought home a DCA last year, but has a long history of gaps between wins: 234
Last win was waaaaay back in regionals: 71, 461
Already punched their ticket: 868
NC:
UNC Asheville:
Brought one home when Indiana was in regionals: 2655
Already going to Charlotte: 3506
Anything could happen at: This event
NE:
UMass- Dartmouth:
Won it at NE DCMP back in ‘14, likely going for another: 78
Took home a DCA last year, wants another: 178
First DCA and RCA last year, wants to win again: 195
Already on their way to Hartford: 230
Last won when NE was in regionals, might have another in them: 246
MAR:
Seneca:
Brought home their first DCA last year, wants another: 1647
Last brought home the award at a regional back in ‘13: 2016
Took a DCA home in ‘14, going for another: 2590
Springside Chestnut Hill:
Last win was in Hawaii, looking for a one closer to home: 11
Last year’s DCMP winners, looking forward to another season: 321
Brought home quite a few up to 2014, might need a second wind: 433
Already brought home their DCA: 708
2014’s DCMP winners, want to take it all the way again: 1218
PCH:
Albany:
Won EI last week, looking for an upgrade (or 100): 3091
Wide open to the field: This event
Dalton:
Looking towards 5 straight Chairman’s banner seasons: 1311
Aiming to catch up to Kell: 2974
PNW:
Central Washington University:
Last win was in regionals, wants to get in the game for districts: 488
Two-time DCMP RCA winners, looking to get their bid: 1983
Already took one home: 2557
First win last year, looking for another: 2930
Won it here last year, looking to repeat: 3588
Mt. Vernon:
First win was in ‘14, trying to repeat: 948
Last win was at a regional, now roaring for districts: 2907
Took one home last year, going for another: 2980
Another from last year, in it to win one in ‘16: 3574
Can’t have a preview post without a few good puns.