**NEforecast: New England District Championship - April 13-16, 2016 **
Webcast: https://www.twitch.tv/nefirst_blue
Team List: http://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2016necmp
Note In order to get this up the day before load in the final team list has not yet been released.
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for since kickoff. It’s time for the New England District Championship! This weekend 64 teams will make their way to the XL Center in Hartford for an intense weekend of Stronghold. In the end, New England will be sending 35 teams to St. Louis which includes four Chairman’s award winners, two Engineering Inspiration award winners, and two Rookie All-Star award winners.
The progression of the game over the past six weeks has shown quite an evolution of Stronghold leading up to the Hartford District Event in week 5 that put up impressive scores of 195 to 192 in the finals. The first four weeks the finals were dominated by low goal scoring with 194 low goals to 42 high goals in the final matches at seven events. The last three events of the year showed more successful high goal strategies with 100 high goals to 38 low goals scored at three event in seven finals matches.
Expect the pits to be busy as teams use their 30lbs to add new mechanisms and test new autonomous routines to give them whatever edge they can. Teams with a strong chance of qualifying for the Championship before the weekend starts will be trying to improve their chances of playing well in St. Louis. Other teams will be trying to increase their performance in an effort to qualify for the Championship. With District Championship points worth 3x as much, anything can happen.
High goal machines:
As the current #1 seeded team in New England, 1519 has continued their success streak in New England having won both of their events this year and brought home an Engineering Inspiration award at UNH as well as the Chairman’s award this past weekend at Pine Tree. Their robot is one of the most advanced in autonomous including high goal routines over the CDF and through the portcullis. Their high release point and fire while driving strategy has made it hard to defend MAYHEM. As winners of the 2015 District Championship they have also made it to the final rounds on 11 fields in the past four seasons.
Speaking of winning last year, 195 is prepared to defend their title as District Champions in 2015 after a tough loss in the final round of the 2014 District Championship. The Cyberknights have found their groove sinking shot after shot into the high goal from around the courtyard. Even under defense their quick shot from the base of the tower is a proven strategy and makes it hard to keep them from destroying your tower. Featuring a one ball auto into the high goal wasn’t enough and can potentially be the first team in New England to pull off a two ball routine on the field.
Despite their low ranks at the end of qualifications in recent weeks, 125 has been ringing the chains all year which led them to four impressive trips to the finals. Their high goal autonomous shot over multiple defenses and safe position at the Outerworks has put them a step above most of the shooting competition and allowed them to take down towers on their own.
After they didn’t qualify last year, 177 was a rumored wild card for this season and in their usual Bobcat fashion they finished in the top of the rankings and walked away as winners at Waterbury and finalists at Hartford. Their high release catapult and wide intake have worked well for them and if they can improve their lineup and stick to the high goal they will be a top machine this weekend.
Batter Beasts like 558 have developed their knack for the high goal fro****m close range. After winning their first event they pulled a fast one and completely rebuilt their robot to feature a smaller drivebase and a simple shooter inspired by 131 that proved their redesign was worth it when they won at Hartford. Finalists at the DCMP in 2014, their simple concepts are followed up by unmatched strategies that play longer on Saturday than most teams.
While they haven’t won an event this year, 176, 5813, 2877, 2067, 5687, 4564, 4909, 2648, 3467, & 4761 have played in the shadows scoring anywhere from three to six boulders consistently in qualifications but fell short of trips to the finals. 166, 2168, &** 4048** all made the finals this year with very strong showings at one of their events and will have more to add this weekend. These teams have the opportunity to shake up the weekend if they seed high or band together to form a killer alliance capable of upsetting some of the higher seeds.
Shooters with Scalers:
These combos didn’t see much success in the opening weeks but their presence has helped propel them through the finals. After spending their time at RIDE to add to their robot and test their climber, 1768 arrived eager to come home with another banner after their win at WPI. Their combination of one of the strongest wheeled shooters and elegant climber gave them their #hangshot that helped pull their alliance through the rubber matches at Boston with a win.
Coming out in week 2 with one of the most refined machines of the year, 133 kept tweaking their machine going into Pine Tree and walked away as the #1 pick and winners. With a low bar high shot in auto, Outerworks shooting position, and quick scaler they are a powerhouse on the field. Their decision to use their scaler more this weekend was a wise move and can make them a very valuable pick at District Champs. Like 133, 4564 is another of Maine’s accurate shooter-scalers with a batter and outer works shot with deadly accuracy. After some climber problems at WPI, they revamped the system for Pine Tree and came out as one of the best scalers at the event.
After a rough start at Waterbury, **155 **perfected their machine and came out on top at UMD and were finalists at Hartford with their close batter shot and reliable scaler. One of the few top teams sporting tank treads they propelled themselves through their events and can find themselves as one of the top picks this weekend.
Other hybrids like 811 & 175 could be a valuable pick in the second round if they can improve their reliability and effectiveness with Boulders.
Low Goal Demons:
Even though the game is evolving, the low goal minded machines are still finding themselves at the top of the rankings and playing deep into the elimination rounds with their focus on consistent capturing in the heat of play. 1058 had a breakout year with three event wins and is the only team in New England to do so in 2016. Their consistent low goals and top notch scaling mechanism have been hard to stop. During their third event they began adding a shooting mechanism to their robot and this weekend they could find themselves on the tails of the top shooting machines if they have used their two weeks wisely.
With their first two banners under their belts as the #1 seed and semi-finalists in Maine,** 319** is one of New England’s fastest and most reliable machines to the low goal. Their combination of a wide intake, practiced drive team, and efficient drivebase allow them seamlessly move Boulders quickly around the field. Their high goal shot has been steadily improving and was successful in autonomous as well.
With two finalist appearances and a win in North Carolina, 238 has been playing a consistent game and hasn’t finished below rank 3 at the end of their qualification rounds. Their abilities to quickly breach, cross multiple defenses in autonomous, and potential for climbing this weekend can make them a steal in the elimination rounds as key to ball starvation.
As the #1 pick at both of their events, 78 was a strong Boulder mover that played a key role in their elimination captures and keeping their shooting partners fed. Despite their smart play they exited as finalists in week 1 and semi-finalists in week 3. Even with most of their efforts focused down low they have been increasing their attempts and success rate into the high goal.
Winners at RIDE, 228 has strong potential for scoring in the high goal but found their consistency down low. Despite some mechanical failures they stayed seeded high in qualification rounds and led their alliance to a long overdue banner.
With ball management playing a key factor in the success of high goal robots in elimination rounds, teams like** 4905**, 1831, 839, 6153, 95, 246, 2370, 88, 1100, 1729, & 1153 can be a wild card on an alliance or if they find themselves in the top eight on Saturday morning.
For fun this week came up with two eliminations brackets and are polling to ask which alliance do you think will pull out the win this weekend. Will the #1 alliance be too powerful or is the field deep enough you think a lower seeded alliance will overcome the odds. Feel free to post your own predictions for alliances!
Predicted Elimination Bracket 1
195, 1519, 4905
558, 125, 2168
319, 177, 5687
230, 1768, 228
1058, 133, 3467
2067, 155, 2648
238, 4564, 5813
2877, 78, 176
Predicted Elimination Bracket 2
1519, 133, 2067
558, 195, 2877
319, 1058, 4905
1768, 125, 176
4564, 177, 839
238, 78, 228
166, 2648, 5813
155, 5687, 3467
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
At the New England District Championship, 10 teams compete for the Chairman’s Award. Of those 10, four will receive the Chairman’s Award and an invitation to compete for the Chairman’s Award at World Championships.
Locks:
125: With their consistent mentoring and assisting of teams through their quick build, BeanTown Blitz offseason event, Latino STEM Alliance, & STEM pipeline, it will be no surprise to see this team be one of the four that will compete for the CA at Worlds.
230: Mentoring FRC Team 3634 and four FLL teams, running an FLL qualifier, hosting the CT state event, and sending 22 FRC teams an MXP expansion breakout board to 4 different countries, this team is a role model to others.
2648: Starting 12 FRC teams in five years, mentoring three FLL teams, running an FRC Training Day and running their offseason event Mainely SPIRIT, this team has consistently shown that they can be one of the four teams that takes home the Chairman’s Award at New England District Championships.
4905: With their annual Tech Kid nights, CAD and Robotics Fun patches, numerous outreach events, FLL teams, and inspiring their school to have more STEM classes, this team has the potential to win their first New England Chairman’s Award.
Other recipients from this year:
4761 The Robockets - North Shore
4176 The Iron Tigers - UMass Dartmouth
166 The Chop Shop - UNH
558 The Robosquad - Hartford
467 The Colonials - Boston
1519 Mechanical MAYHEM - Pine Tree
