Week 1 Happened!
If you’re reading this, then congratulations! You survived Week 1 of FIRST STEAMWORKS! If you were lucky enough to hide under a rock this past weekend, here’s what you missed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq16kd7uBPE.
Apologies for the late posting. But evidently this thread wasn’t the only thing far behind schedule this week.
As with most teams (and all of the fields, apparently), MAR’s out-of-district contingents had a rough start to FIRST STEAMWORKS.
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Down in the South Carolina, the Tin MORTs battled it out in the Palmetto
State’s namesake city. Both 4575 and 11 ended qualifications with a 3-5 record, ranking 45th and 49th, respectively, out of the 62 teams in attendance. Neither team got advanced to the eliminations, but 4575 earned the Entrepreneurship Award to add to their sash. -
The Xtreme Mechanical Iron-oneers had a similar showing at the Southwest Virginia Chesapeake District
. After 12-cut-down-to-10 qualification matches, 4653 ranked 23rd, 223 ranked 31st, 1676 ranked 32nd, and 3314 ranked 34th of 38 teams. Despite their comm issues early on and the 3 yellow cards they received, 1676 was the lone out-of-district MAR team to be chosen for the eliminations this past weekend, as the 1st pick of the #8 seed, but they ultimately got knocked out in the quarterfinals after pushing it to three matches. Nonetheless, Pascack did take home both their 11th Entrepreneurship and 7th Industrial Safety Awards, while Xtreme Heat claimed their 3rd Innovation in Control Award.
Meanwhile, MAR had a competition of our own this weekend over at Hatboro-Horsham, PA.
Hatboro-Horsham Recap:
Quarterfinals:
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708
’s great gear acquisition earned them the #1 seed last weekend, selecting the agile gear cycler 1257 to join their alliance in the playoffs. This gearing powerhouse alliance suffered a hasty defeat in quarterfinals after 708 and 1257 both battled robot issues on the field, allowing the #8 alliance, captained by skilled defender 5181, to advance to the semifinals. - The #2 seed, Hall of Fame team 341
, partnered with sophomores 5895, whose robot boldly focused on fuel while lacking a floor pickup. This two-turret alliance was able to round out their alliance with skilled defender 4454, and clinched a spot in semifinals thanks to Daisy’s autonomous gear and a handful of autonomous high goals from 5895, defeating two-time Hatboro winners 1218 and their alliance partners. -
3974
made one of their strongest event showings yet, earning the #3 alliance captain spot and choosing 2590, who demonstrated vast improvement from Saturday to Sunday. Their alliance took quarterfinals by storm, demonstrating the ability to put up three rotors and three climbs thanks to their second pick, 2539. - Captain #4 2607
selected swerving 103 to join their alliance. Joined by strong sleeper pick 4285, they earned their semis ticket by winning their first two elims matches by 100 and 90 points, showing what can be done when all three alliance partners demonstrate skill and consistency.
Semifinals:
- In Semifinals series 1, it was the upset #8 alliance against the #4 alliance. While 5181 continued to play effective defense, 103 swerved right around them, giving the #4 alliance the edge they needed to avoid a loss to #8 and advance to finals.
- On the other side of the bracket, #2 faced #3. While fuel has played a small role in these matches, the #3 alliance used it to gain the upper hand. While they did not score any pressure points, they dumped hoppers and spread it around #2’s loading lane, making it considerably more difficult for Daisy and Peddie to acquire gears. With their skillful strategy, #3 beat #2 in two matches and secured a place in the finals.
Finals:
- The first finals match started off fairly even, with neither alliance able to get a rotor started in autonomous. But as the match progressed, 2607 died in their retrieval zone, allowing the blue #3 alliance of 3974, 2590, and 2539 to pull ahead by activating their third rotor with less than 20 seconds left in the match and getting all three robots ready for takeoff.
- In Finals Match 2, both alliances were able to get the first rotor spinning during autonomous and two more each during teleoperated mode. As the ropes were released both alliances were able to activate two touchpads, with 103 on the red alliance struggling to push their third, just inches away from victory. After the dust settled, the score was a tie, 255-255, pushing it to a third match.
- With the blue alliance up by one, both alliances were again able to activate the first rotor in autonomous mode of Finals Match 3. But this time, red had the upper hand, turning their third rotor at the 30 second whistle and getting all three robots at the top of their ropes. Just when you thought you had enough of FIRST STEAMWORKS, the series was evened out to 1-1, forcing Hatboro-Horsham to a 4th, yes a 4th, finals match.
- Finals Match 4 started with red having the upper hand, with 4285 delivering a gear in auto to get the first rotor spinning and 103 desperately trying to get some pressure in the boiler. However blue fought back, activating their third rotor with a whole minute left on the clock. With blue defense slowing them down, red needed just one more gear to get their third rotor spinning, but 103 decided to try to climb rather than place the gear already in their robot onto the peg. Blue and red both had two robots already ready for takeoff, with 103 again having a hard time getting to the top. With 5 seconds left the Cybersonics’ rope broke, sending them crashing to the ground. On the blue side, it seemed as though 2539 was just about to activate their alliance’s third touchpad for the win, but at the last second their rope snapped too, resulting in their robot plummeting down as well. After the scores were calculated, it was a revealed that a G13 foul on blue decided the difference, because of course it did. In the end, the red #4 alliance of 2607, 103, and 4285 won by just five points, 240-235.
In the award ceremony, event hosts** 708** took home their 4th Chairman’s title and 2nd in a row at Hatboro-Horsham, while third-year team 5401, the Fightin’ Robotic Owls, brought their first Engineering Inspiration Award back to their nest.
**Pushing on to Week 2:
**
6 MAR teams are returning to FIRST STEAMWORKS for a second time at Mount Olive, having already suffered through Week 1. 1143, 1791, 3929, and rookies 6667 all gained experienced competing at Hatboro-Horsham last weekend, while 11 and 3314 are fresh off their trips out of district to Palmetto and Southwest Virginia, respectively. Will these teams be able to apply their knowledge of the field to get the higher ground at Mount Olive this week?
Mount Olive:
Top teams:
- After a season of close elimination matches, 25
is looking to raid a victory back home. Featuring more auto modes than any team had Qualification Matches at a Week 1 District Event, these two-time World Champions hope to bring home some more blue after losing in the finals at both the Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event and the MAR DCMP last year. Expect a rocky start for this veteran as they dial in their autonomous routines and prove matches can be decided in the first 15 seconds. -
56
tends not to be flashy, but their record includes 10 regional/district wins and 4 finalist titles, as well as being the World Championship Finalists in 2005. They’ve won a MAR District Event every year but 2015, when a last-second rushed attempt at a capped six-stack cost them the Bridgewater-Raritan District finals. While they have been the #1 alliance captain at the Mt. Olive District for the past two years, they’ve only made it as far as the semifinals, but a new strategy mentor may give them the edge they need. Their robot appears to be lacking any fuel capabilities at first glance, but based on their history that would be Xtremely unlikely. -
222
won the first two Mt. Olive MAR District Events back in 2012 and 2013, but have only made 3 finals appearances since then, most recently at last year’s Montgomery District Event. Although they missed a full week of build season due to snow days, the Tigertrons hope to pounce on early success this weekend with their over-the-bumper fuel collector and active gear placement mechanism. - Ever since their Newton Division win back in 2013, 303
has been doing anything but standing by. In 2015, The T.E.S.T. Team won the North Brunswick MAR District Event and were finalists at the MAR DCMP. They were the #1 seed at last year’s Montgomery District before being knocked out in the semifinals. Will their integrated fuel collecting and climbing device produce high ratings during this year’s season premiere episode this weekend? - The seemingly “always the bridesmaid and never the bride” 1403
finally had their six finalist curse broken after winning the 2015 Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event. They made a semifinal exit at last year’s Mt. Olive District after a rough hit knocked their battery loose in the rubber match. The Cougars declined their invitation to the final single World Championship, but appear to be coming back with a roar this season with two separate high goal shooters.
Up-and-Comers:
- The students and mentors of Middlesex, New Jersey, prepare to soar to new heights as 747
. Middlesex’s former team, 869 Powercord, had ascended from a powerful defender to an offensive force with gorgeous robots over the past few years, being the second overall pick at the 2016 Bridgewater-Raritan and Montgomery MAR District Events and first pick of the third alliance at last year’s Seneca District. Although 869 had only two event wins, at the St. Louis Regional in their rookie year of 2002 and at the 2014 Clifton MAR District, they were the victors at last year’s inaugural HAVOC offseason event shortly before reforming as 747. Following their finalist finish at the 2016 Brunswick Eruption offseason event, the Flight Crew is preparing for liftoff at their official competition debut this weekend. - **1923 **
ranked second overall at Mount Olive in both 2016 and 2014 before picking event hosts Team 11 both times, but were not able to make it past the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. They reached Einstein with the help of 148, 1114, and 900 in 2015, but just barely missed the World Championship finals by a mere three totes. Other than Curie 2015, it’s been 6 years since they’ve tasted gold, but will the time finally come again for the MidKnight Inventors? - This might only be the third year for 5624
, but Tiger Tech won both the 2016 Mount Olive and Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Events as the 1st pick of the #7 alliance. They smartly built within their abilities last year and helped earn their alliance the world record for most teleop low goals scored in the quarterfinals of the Bridgewater-Raritan District. This young teams is fielding a more ambitious robot this year with a dual flywheel shooter and a tall robot configuration, hoping to return home with a blue banner again this season.
**Sleepers: **
- Event hosts 11
raked in one district win last year, two finalist appearances in 2015, a win at the MAR DCMP in 2014, and both a district and regional win in 2013 before losing in the finals at the MAR DCMP. One of the few MAR teams that already attempted STEAMWORKS last weekend, they left the Palmetto Regional with a 3-5 qualification record and went unpicked for eliminations after being ranked 49th out of 62. But, MORT has had slow starts for the past few years, and expect them to be looking full steam ahead in their hometown this weekend. - After seasons of lackluster performances, 41
, the RoboWarriors, certainly fought their way to the top last year. Finalists at Mount Olive in 2016, they went on to win the Montgomery MAR District Event as well as the Carson Division at the last real-Champs, being the last pick off both alliances. Certainly don’t turn your back on these warriors, because they might just surprise you. - From 1997 through 2001, 75
won three J&J Mid Atlantic Regionals, along with the 2001 Curie Division. Until the 2014 Mount Olive MAR District Event, they had only one other event victory, at the 2007 Chesapeake Regional. Nonetheless, their robot climbed to the top back in 2013; expect to find them hanging around at the end of matches once again this season. -
2016
showed their might back in 2011, when the ended their season as World Championship Finalists. In 2010 through 2012, they claimed 2 regional wins and 4 regional/district finalists. But, they’ve only made 3 finalist appearances since then: 2014 Curie Division where they were the last pick of the #2 alliance, 2015 South Florida regional where they were the last pick of the #3 alliance, and the 2015 Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event as the first pick of the #2 alliance. This will be their first time competing at the Mount Olive MAR District Event, and while they didn’t make it past the quarterfinals at any of their official events last year, they certainly don’t plan on monkeying around come Sunday afternoon.
Dark Horses:
- The freshman on 193
never fail to amaze. Making it to the finals at least once every year since the team’s inception in 2013, including last year’s Mount Olive MAR District Event and Hopper Subdivision, this Beta team can certainly give the Alpha Dogs a run for their money. Expect these fish to swim to the top at their students’ first official FRC competition. - 2014 and 2016 MAR Championship Finalists 1089
is still looking for their first event win, other than the 2015 Archimedes Division of course. They were also knocked out of the finals at the Bridgewater-Raritan and Lenape Seneca MAR District Events back in 2014 and 2013, respectively, but this will be Team Mercury’s first time competing at Mount Olive. How well will they do with another trip around the sun? -
3314
, the Mechanical Mustangs, weren’t the favorite in the race this past weekend at Southwest Virginia, but their prior experience on the real field will prove invaluable going into this weekend. This dark horse might finally hit their stride this weekend as they dial in their shooter and gear delivery.
Rookies:
- Rule S07’s Blue Box.
Chairman’s Award:
This year’s Mount Olive MAR District Event features a deep field of candidates for Culture Changing Awards. Since the inception of the MAR District in 2012, 10 teams competing at this event (counting 869 as 747) have earned 20 Engineering Inspiration Awards and 17 Chairman’s Awards.
- Flander’s own 11
holds 6 Chairman’s Awards, but hasn’t won at a MAR District since 2013. However, they did take home District Engineering Inspiration Awards in both 2015 and 2016. With district teams not being able to win Chairman’s at regionals anymore, will MORT present on their own turf this weekend? If so, these hometown heroes might just be the favorite going into the Awards Ceremony on Sunday afternoon. -
75
has 5 Chairman’s Award wins, including the 2012 and 2013 Mount Olive MAR District Events and the 2012 MAR DCMP, but has missed the cut since 2014. They also total 10 Engineering Inspiration Awards, including at Mount Olive in 2014 and at the 2015 MAR DCMP, but surprisingly were not able to take it home at any of their events last year either. - Last year’s MAR DCMP Chairman’s Award winner 1923
has only won Chairman’s twice at MAR District Events, with one being last season’s Mount Olive District. They do have 3 Engineering Inspiration Awards under their belt too, most recently in 2015, although just one of those was in MAR. -
2016
has won Regional Chairman’s Awards in 2010, 2011, and 2013, as well as Regional Engineering Inspiration Awards in 2014 and 2015, but haven’t won either at MAR District Events. With this being the first year that district teams are eligible to earn Culture Changing Awards at regionals, will they be able to claim a medal at a district event for the first time?
Westtown:
Top teams:
- Ever since they were the winning second pick of the #1 alliance at the 2012 Hatboro-Horsham District Event AND
the 2012 MAR DCMP AND the 2013 MAR DCMP, 1640 has transitioned from building perfect support bots to nearly unstoppable top seeds and early picks. After winning the Newton Division as 303’s second pick in 2013, they have made it to the finals at all but two of their district events and taken home two district winner banners, including last year’s Westtown District Event, and also took home silver on Einstein back in 2014. After seeing how well swerve suited 103 at Hatboro, expect Sab-BOT-tage to be driving to the top this coming weekend. - Delaware’s own 365
sports 8 district/regional victories, and also won the 2001 World Championship in their sophomore season. Their latest win was at the 2016 Seneca MAR District Event, where they were the first pick for the #1 alliance. They were the first pick of the #2 alliance at Westtown last year, and fell in the semifinals by just 9 and 7 points in their first and second matches. This green team hopes to bring a blue banner back to the First State on Sunday evening. - 7-time district/event winners and 5-time finalists 316
are coming into this season fresh off their win at their own Duel on the Delaware offseason event this past fall. Their last win was at the 2015 MAR DCMP, redeeming themselves for 2014, when not getting picked for eliminations at MAR Champs tragically costed them an invite to St. Louis after winning both of their District Events earlier in the season. They LuNaTeCs are poised to make a comeback again this year following their failure to even advance to Lehigh last season.
Up-and-Comers:
- Last year was 834
’s first time qualifying for the World Championship, where they made it in via a MAR point slot. They made the finals at the Philadelphia Regional in 2005, 2007, 2008, and the New Jersey Regional in 2009. More recently, they led the #2 alliance to the finals at last year’s Hatboro-Horsham MAR District Event and ranked third at Bridgewater-Raritan. Although they went unpicked on the Carver Division last season after ranking 14th, the SparTechs hope to ride their wave of success from 2016 into their first ever Westtown District Event appearance this weekend. -
1391
made it to the finals at events in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016, but emerged victorious at Westtown last year as the last pick of the #1 alliance. They built one of the few 4-can-grabbers in MAR back in 2015, but weren’t able to grab a win with it. You should never stand in the way of a charging moose, and this team certainly is gaining momentum. - In their 2 seasons so far, 5407
has claimed 2 wins, both at Hatboro-Horsham MAR District Events. They built that ingenius can-grabber in 2015 out of Igus cable carrier and captained the #7 alliance at Westtown last year, but Wolfpack Robotics is still hunting for their first win.
**Sleepers: **
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816
has only made it to the finals three times, and were only able to going home victorious once, back in 2012. At official events, they’ve only made it to the semifinals once since 2013, but did earn gold at the inaugural HAVOC offseason event last year. Will they be back on the podium again this season, or was that just an Anomaly? - The 2015 Springside Chestnut Hill MAR District Event was the lone finalist appearance for 1712
, but with a solid ground gear acquisition and climber, Dawgma might just have a bone to chew with their competitors this weekend. Anything is possible for this team, who after receiving a last-minute MAR Champs invite last year, went on to captain an alliance there as well on the Hopper Division of the World Championship. -
1989
captained the #8 alliance at last year’s Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event, along with the #6 alliance at both the Montgomery District and MAR Championship in 2016 and at the North Brunswick MAR District Event in 2015. While the Vikings were able to win the 2008 New York City Regional during their second year, their last trip to the finals was when they captained the #5 alliance at the 2014 Clifton MAR District Event. - Twice has 2729
made it to the finals at an event, and both times they won. They stormed MAR back in 2013 by ranking 4th at the Lenape Seneca MAR District Event and winning as the first pick of the #3 alliance, and then going on to captain the champion #1 alliance at the MAR DCMP. They haven’t made it past the quarterfinals since then, going unpicked at both of their districts last year, but look to be able to do a little bit of everything this season with a floor ball intake, high goal shooter, active gear placement, and climber. - 2013 MAR DCMP Rookie All-Stars 4637
are back for their 5th year and are ready to buck up to the challenge. The BambieBotz made into the playoffs last season for the first time since 2013, captaining the #7 alliance at the Springside Chestnut Hill MAR District Event and the #8 alliance at Westtown. Focusing on just gears and climbing this season, these girls are hunting to lead another alliance to the eliminations this year and earn their second trip to Lehigh since 2013.
**Dark Horse: **
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484
reached the finals early in their existence back at the 2001 and 2002 Philadelphia Alliance Regionals in just their second and third years. The Roboforce was not with them again until 2014, where they got silver at the MAR DCMP, and most recently at Westtown last year. While the second ‘4’ on their bumpers may always be backwards, these students can engineer clean, smart robots that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Rookies:
- While this is just their first year, rookies 6667
may have a leg up over some veterans this weekend after having experience on the real field at Hatboro last week with a working climber to boot. Their record was only 3-7, but the STEM Clippers are still looking to show MAR what the STEM Academy at Showalter can do.
Chairman’s Award:
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321
won Engineering Inspiration at the Chestnut Hill MAR District Event 2012 and three times in 2013 - twice at districts (back when that was still allowed) and then at the MAR DCMP. They were only able to snag a Judge’s Award in 2014, but won Chairman’s at districts and MAR Champs in both 2015 and 2016. These RoboLancers come to fight, and are almost certainly a lock for Chairman’s this weekend. - After four Regional Chairman’s Awards and two Chairman’s Award Honorable Mentions at the World Championship, 365
finally entered the Hall of Fame in 2007. But, MOE is eligible to win Chairman’s once again, and won Engineering Inspiration at the 2014 Springside Chestnut Hill MAR District Event and the 2015 Upper Darby MAR District Event. - All-girls team 433
went on a Chairman’s spree from 2009 to 2014, winning it 8 times, twice at MAR DCMP. While they also won Engineering Inspiration 5 times from 2006 to 2012, the Firebirds flame has been out for the past two years. -
2729
has earned two Culture Changing Awards before: Engineering Inspiration at the 2015 MAR Seneca District Event and Chairman’s at the 2013 Lenape Seneca MAR District Event. Lightning struck twice for Storm, could it strike a third time?
CHS District - Greater DC Event
- The 2000 World Championship Finalists Team 102
are traveling down to our nation’s capitol this weekend for their first out-of-district competition since the 2015 UMass-Dartmouth NE District Event. Although they have 3 regional wins under their belt, their last trip to the finals was back at the 2011 New Jersey Regional. While playing against the likes of 1111, 1885, returning Greater DC Event champions 2912 and 4821, and last year’s CHS District Championship Finalists 422, the Gearheads hope to put their name to the test, literally.
NE District - Southeast Massachusetts Event
- In preparation for the Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event later this season, 4954
is traveling up north to Bridgewater, Massachusetts for New England’s Southeast Massachusetts District Event. Palindrome finally made it to the finals in their junior year last season after captaining the #6 alliance at the Westtown MAR District Event, but won last summer’s MidKnight Mayhem offseason event with Pennsylvania powerhouses 225, 1640, and 2607. They hope to continue moving their momentum forward rather than backwards while playing out-of-district this weekend with what looks to be a floor gear acquisition on one side of their bot and a fuel intake on the other, in almost true Palindrome fashion.