We are halfway through the MAR District competition season and as airships have begun to soar, so too have the scores. 66 teams have yet to play their second MAR district event and many hope to climb the ranks at Seneca this weekend. With time running out, teams are not just competing to win individual district events but also to make the cut for the MAR District Championship. It should be noted that at the top of the MAR rankings currently is Hall of Fame team 103, already registered for St. Louis. While **1676 **is also prequalified through winning the Newton-Hopper Division Engineering Inspiration Award last year, it appears that **222 **and **2607 **have been offered waitlist spots to this year’s Super Regional North, giving MAR two less teams to worry about when it comes down to vying for district slots at this year’s World Championship(s).
Week 3 Recap
Bridgewater-Raritan
Quarterfinals
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As fate would have it, the best robot at this past weekend’s Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event wasn’t even from MAR. New England’s own **2168 **
ranked #1 with a 11-1 qualification record, and chose event hosts **303 **as their first pick, and finished off their three-course meal with **752 **for dessert. The playoffs began slightly unusually, with the #8 alliance of 1807, 1257, and 1989 calling their timeout before matches even started, which gave the 2168 on the #1 alliance more time to complete their cheesecake climber addition to 752. (Interestingly, 1807 had upset their now-partner 1257 earlier this season from the #8 alliance at Hatboro-Horsham, when Parallel Universe was the first overall pick of the tournament.) All 6 robots successfully climbed in QF1-1, but blue was just one gear shy of completing their third rotor after one of their pilots dropped a gear after pulling it into the airship, giving #1 the lead. #8 switched out 1989 for backup bot 4573 and was able to get their third rotor spinning in QF1-2, but 9 kPa and a 25 point G13 foul advanced #1 onto the semis, even after a foul on red gave blue an automatic climb. -
For the first time in quite possibly ever, **1370 **
entered eliminations as an alliance captain, and after being declined by 102 eventually selected 193 and **3340 **to join them on Alliance #5. The opposing alliance captain in their first match, 223, was also first declined, this time by 219, before inviting 1279 and 1626 to their #4 alliance. In QF2-1, 223 died just 15 seconds into teleop after their battery fell out, and with no red robots ready for flight at the end of the match, #5 easily took the win. However, after the match, a yellow card was assessed on the #5 alliance for aggressive behavior in the alliance station due to drive teams banging on the driver station to alert their pilots to lower the ropes. #4 fought back in QF2-2, getting one more rotor and climb than #5, pushing it to a third match. QF2-3 was the closest of the three. Red was able to get their first rotor spinning in autonomous and their third in teleop, but all three blue robots were able to climb to the top of their ropes. But, our good old friend G13 was back for more, and a foul on red gave #5 the victory and a spot in the semifinals. -
After declining 1370’s invitation, **102 **
captained the #7 alliance, and asked **41 **and **1403 **to join them in their quest to upset the #2 alliance of 56, 834, and 4281. In their first matchup, blue was able to activate their first rotor in autonomous and seemed to have the lead as the match progressed. But wait! G13 struck again, this time against the blue alliance and ended up letting #2 squeak by with a 261-259 win. The tables turned in QF3-2, and while red was able to spin their third rotor just in time, all three blue robots activated their touchpads, and with a little help from the friendly neighborhood G13, #7 claimed the win and a rubber match. Before the third match, alliance #2 called in a backup robot, replacing 4281 with 4035. In the tiebreaker, both sides were able to deliver a gear and get their first rotor spinning in autonomous, and were neck-and-neck in teleop. During the endgame, the score was 257-258 with two seconds left on the clock. But, a last second hang by 102 on blue and a near miss by 4035 on red secured the #7 alliance a trip to the semifinals. -
219
, who turned down an invite to the #4 alliance, ended up captaining the #6 alliance and were joined by **747 **and 3637. The #3 alliance of 3142, 1676, and 1676 tried to make a stand in QF4-1, but with only the Pi-oneers onboard the airship for blue at the end of the match, #4 easily took the win with their autonomous rotor, 20 kPa scored in teleop, and all three robots ready for flight. While both alliances activated their first rotor in QF4-2, the blue alliance’s 3 climbs to 2 on red and the aid of a certain foul (yep, it’s the one you’re thinking of) allowed the #4 alliance to put the quarterfinals behind them and move onto the semis.
Semifinals
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The first semifinal series saw the matchup of #1 2168
, 303, and **752 **against #5 1370, 193, and 3340. #1 came out ahead by one kPa in autonomous, but also had their first rotor spinning. They pushed on during teleop, scoring an additional 10 kPa and two more rotors. With three activated touchpads, #1 took the lead in the series. After again scoring the first rotor during autonomous in SF2-2, red scored just one more kPa in teleop, yet were one rotor ahead of blue. All 6 robots successfully climbed as the buzzer rang, but ultimately #1 outscored their opponents and advanced to the finals, even without the help of the 30 foul points assessed to blue. -
Alliance #4 of 219
, 747, and **3637 **met Alliance #7 of 102, 41, and 1403 in SF1-1. This match was fairly close, and with both alliances activating their second and third rotors at the same times. Each robot hung from the top of their ropes as the match concluded, but ultimately it was blue’s autonomous rotor and 10 additional kPa points that gave #4 the win. Blue again spun their first rotor in autonomous in SF2-2, and followed it up with 49 balls in the high efficiency boiler in teleop. Only one red robot was off the ground after the match was up while all three of blue’s were good to go, and with 30 foul points given to blue, the #4 alliance was flying off the finals.
Finals
The Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event finals saw a rematch of the Mount Olive finals, with 303 and 747 again on opposite sides of the field. Would 747 be able to reverse their fortune and defeat 303 this time by, or would 303 and true aliens to MAR 2168 help each other to both claim their second win of the 2017 season?
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#1 had the lead after autonomous in Finals 1 by 3 kPa, with the first rotors spinning on both sides of the field. However, #4 tossed 27 fuel balls into the high efficiency boiler during teleop, scoring them 9 kPa, Just as it looked like blue was going to pull away with the win, 219 failed to engage with their rope and were stuck grounded while all of red’s robots were up, up, and away, with #1 taking the lead.
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In Finals 2, #4 came out ahead in autonomous by 6 kPa. 303 attempted to match their opponent’s pressure score in teleop, but as it soon became obvious that they would not be quick enough to outscore 747, they switched to a defensive strategy instead. After repeated ramming by them and 2168 to knock 747 off-target in the blue key, the final nail in the coffin for blue came as a lone fuel ball got wedged between 747 and the alliance station wall before knocking against 747’s main breaker, disabling them with just 40 seconds left in the match. With #4 unable to get three climbs as the clock wound down, the #1 alliance of 2168
, 303, and cheesecaked **752 **emerged as champions, with 303 hoisting up their third blue banner of the year, 2168 taking their second winner banner of the season back north to Connecticut, and 752 earning their first blue banner ever.
Awards
- Alliance partners 1676
and **3142 **may have been eliminated in the quarterfinals, but that didn’t stop them from leaving the Bridgewater-Raritan event with medals. Last year’s Newton-Hopper Division Engineering Inspiration Award winners, the Pascack Pi-oneers, earned their sixth Chairman’s Award at Bridgewater-Raritan, while Aperture took home their fifth Engineering Inspiration Award. Special shout-out to this past weekend’s Volunteer Coordinator George Ackley Jr., who deservedly won the Volunteer of the Year Award on Sunday. (Speaking of which, anyone have the footage of him riding that chariot to the Austin Powers theme? Asking for a friend…)
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Quarterfinals
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225 blazed their way to the #1 seed last weekend at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy with their impressive fuel autonomous mode and fast gear cycles, and formed a power alliance with 2590 and 423. But, they’re journey didn’t last long as they went up against the #8 alliance of 204
, 1218, and 5407. In QF1-1, blue got their first rotor turning in autonomous mode while red instead focused on racking up 15 kPa in the high efficiency boiler. Red continued to have their sights set on raising the pressure in teleop, scoring an additional 63 fuel balls in the high boiler for 21 points. Blue chose instead to put gears first, and by activating their third rotor were able to outscore red by 25 points. QF1-2 played out similarly, with red scoring 16 kPa in autonomous. Although blue couldn’t spin their first rotor in autonomous, they got all three turning in teleop, and with red only scoring 13 additional kPa in teleop and failing to get all three robots atop their ropes for the endgame, the #8 alliance pulled off a notable upset against the possible Springside Chestnut Hill Academy favorites and made their way to the semis. -
**708 **
declined 484’s invite to the #4 alliance, and instead captained the #5 alliance with partners **5181 **and **6226 **to play against 484, 3974, and 2539 in the quarterfinals, which were some of the closest of the tournament QF2-1 came down to just a single climb, with the only other difference being an additional 5 mobility points for #4 in autonomous. But, #5 was able to lift all of their robots off the ground before time ran out, giving blue the lead in the series. In QF2-2, the deciding points came from red being able to activate their first rotor in autonomous, with all other scores were matched evenly. And just when you think it couldn’t get any closer than that you are proven wrong, with QF2-3 being an even tie 255-255, because who doesn’t love more FIRST STEAMWORKS. Both sides scored 15 mobility points, one rotor in autonomous, two more rotors in teleop, and two successful climbs. Both alliances again turned their first rotor in autonomous in QF2-4, but to prevent another tie, red thought smart and scored a single kPa in autonomous as well. With that single pressure point #4 had the lead for the match until the endgame, where blue’s three climbs as opposed to red’s two allowed for #5 to finally advance to the semifinals. -
QF3-1 saw Alliance #2 of 5404, 341, and 304 pitted against the #7 alliance of 1811
, 433, and 486. Red took the lead at first, scoring an autonomous rotor, but as most matches, the difference came down to activated touchpads. Red got two robots all the way up, but blue did them one better, beating them out by 30 points. QF3-2 played out quite similarly, with red against having the lead by the autonomous rotor until the endgame, where an extra climb by blue (along with a G13 foul on red just for fun) gave Alliance #7 the victory. -
Finalists at Westtown earlier this season, **4342 **
was still hunting for their first win, and picked this year’s Hatboro-Horsham MAR District Event winners 103 along with last year’s Duel on the Delaware winners **5420 **to join them on the #3 alliance. They faced off against the #6 alliance of 4454, 203, and 1495. #3 scored both their first rotor and a single ball in the high efficiency boiler during autonomous in QF4-1, and pushed it to three rotors in teleop. They were only able to activate a single touchpad before the match ended, but squeezed out the win 206-195. The same autonomous mode occurred for #3 in QF4-2, but this time blue got their first rotor going as well. Although all six touchpads were lit after the match, blue was only able to activate one additional rotor in teleop, giving #3 the series win in two matches.
Semifinals
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Fresh from their upset of the #1 alliance, #8 of 204
, 1218, and **5407 **met the #5 alliance of 708, 5181, and 6226 in SF1-1. #5 emerged from autonomous with their first rotor already turning, while #8 had only scored a single pressure point. Both alliances got their third rotors activated in teleop, but with red getting an additional climb after ropes were deployed, #8 took the win 237-209. If you thought one FIRST STEAMWORKS tie in eliminations was enough for one competition, surprise! You were wrong. SF1-2 started off with both alliances spinning their first rotor in auto, followed by two more in teleop. With all six robots successfully climbed at the end of the match and both sides getting 2 kPa in teleop the score was tied 307-307, with #5 needing just one more fuel ball in the high efficiency boiler for the win. Nonetheless, in SF1-3, both alliances again got their first rotor in auto, but #8 through ahead and scored 2 kPa, just in case. Red went on to score 5 additional kPa in teleop, but blue doubled that with 10 kPa. While blue would’ve been up by three points as all six robots hung from their ropes, a certain penalty popped up yet again to guarantee #8 a finals spot. Which penalty was it this time? Here, you can guess:
https://i.imgur.com/bfthxM9.png -
The second semifinal series saw the #3 alliance of 4342
, 103, and **5420 **against the #7 alliance of 1811, 433, and 486. Each alliance started off the first match with a rotor being activated in autonomous, with #3 scoring a single pressure point to prevent any ties. Both sides spun up two more rotors in teleop, with #3 scoring another kPa in the boiler as well. Surprisingly, each alliance only got a single robot ready for flight, but with the two kPa scored by #3, they pulled ahead, but were pushed further by the 50 foul points assessed against #7. #3 again scored their first rotor and one ball in the high efficiency boiler in autonomous in SF2-2, while #7 failed to get their main rotor spinning. Each side had three rotors turning in teleop, but #3 was able to claim the win with all three of their robots at their touchpads compared to only one of #7’s. With an additional 30 points of fouls against the red alliance helping to seal the deal, #3 was off to fight in the finals.
Finals
In the finals it was alliance #8 in red versus alliance #3 in blue. 1218 was still looking for their first win of the year, while 204 was looking for their third-ever win and 5407 searching for their second. 103 had already won the Hatboro-Horsham MAR District Event back in Week 1, and while 4342 had made it to the finals at Westtown last weekend, this was the only the second time 5420 had ever made it to the finals in an official event. Who would end up as the ultimate Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Champions? Will there be another tie? Would G13 make any more surprise appearances? Will the Day 2 webcast that gets posted on the FIRST Mid-Atlantic YouTube Channel only be 20 minutes long, leaving you to write an extensive recap of the event based on only your memory? Only time would tell.
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#3 had the lead in Finals 1 after autonomous. Both alliances activated their first rotor but blue had scored two kPa in the boiler. In teleop, each side got up to their third rotor and blue scored another pressure point, but red was able to drain 19 full balls into the high-efficiency boiler for 6 kPa. All six robots were fully off the ground when the buzzer went off, and with a clean match, the #8 alliance won by just 3 points, 311-308, due to their boiler scoring.
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But, blue made it clear that they wouldn’t be going down without a fight. In Finals 2 neither side scored any pressure in autonomous, with red also failing to generate any kPa in teleop. #3 was able to pump out 4 kPa, but #8 came up just shy of activating their third rotor, allowing blue to pull away. With all robots on the field again successfully up in the air, #3 took the win 309-265 and tied up the series, forcing one final match.
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Just fifteen minutes ago, the #8 alliance was only one match away from being the competition champions, but in Finals 3 everything seemed to fall apart. Tied after autonomous with one rotor going on each side and both boilers empty of fuel, red was able to get two pressure points in teleop while blue generated only one kPa. However, #8 failed to activate their third rotor, and were only able to get one of their robots ready for flight. With all three of blue’s robots dangling from their touchpads with three rotors spinning on their airship, the #3 alliance of 4342
, 103, and **5420 **were crowned the event victors. Surprisingly, this was the first two-win season so far for 103, and the first official event win for both 4342 and 5420.
Awards
- In the Awards Ceremony, 2015 and 2016 MAR District Championship Engineering Inspiration winners **1218 **
were given their second silver medal of the day for claiming their fifth Engineering Inspiration Award, while **433 **earned their ninth Chairman’s Award, ending a three-year drought.
Week 4 Preview
Seneca
Top Teams
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Mount Olive’s #1 seed **293 **
was knocked out in the semifinals by just 3 kPa and a foul after the third robot on their alliance fell at the last second. But don’t think they’ll let a spike in their plans stop them. They’re still searching for their first event win since 2014, and after winning the Quality Award with an 11-1 Qualification Match record at Mount Olive, these students are ready to show what killer engineering really is. -
**365 **
just missed out on adding some more gold to their green at Westtown after they lost comm in Finals Match 2, but that won’t slow down their MOEmentum. Moe won last year’s Seneca MAR District Event as the first pick of the #1 alliance, and you better expect their green machine to be shooting high come playoffs. -
**708 **
is tossing their hat into the ring for the third time this year at the Seneca District Event. They were upset in the quarterfinals at Hatboro seeding #1, and made it to the semifinals at Springside Chestnut Hill as the captains of the #5 alliance but lost in three matches after tieing in the second. They’ve won over 60% of their matches this season, but are still looking to take home the gold before they ride off into the night. Consider this event one more practice before MAR Championship. -
**1218 **
has only competed at Seneca once before, taking home two gold medals back in 2015. But, this season Seneca will be their third event of the year and they are ready to improve on their finalist exit at Springside Chestnut Hill. Although they’ve only won half of their matches so far in 2017, Vulcan has won a MAR event each year since the district’s inception in 2012, and aren’t ready to give that streak up just yet. -
This will be the first time **2607 **
is journeying over to Seneca, but these RoboVikings are prepared to pillage, fresh off a win at Hatboro-Horsham in Week 1 as the captains of the #4 alliance. They’ve had a two-win season before back in 2015, are are looking to fly high another blue banner when they sail back across the Delaware on Sunday night. -
Sophomore team and last year’s Carson Sub-Division Finalists **5895 **
are also peddling over to Seneca for their first time and still searching for their first win of 2017. They were the second overall pick at Hatboro but fell short of making the finals. But Peddie proved victorious at their second MAR District Event last season at Mongomery, and are hoping for a repeat this year not just beginners luck.
Up-and-Comers
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While **204 **
might’ve ranked 30th out of 31 teams back at Westtown, these Eastern Robotic Vikings fought back last weekend, captaining the #8 alliance at Springside Chestnut Hill all the way to the finals. They had only made it to the finals twice previously, but as one of the few teams competing at Seneca with two events already under their belt this year they are ready to raid for the gold. -
**272 **
has already punched their ticket for the 2017 MAR District Championship by winning Chairman’s at Westtown, but their Crusade isn’t over yet. They lost in the quarterfinals at Westtown as the #4 alliance captains, but like their motto says, they’ll either find a way to the top or make their own. -
Although **1712 **
had a ruff time at Westtown after captaining the #7 alliance the quarterfinals, they’re still working hard to add some gold to their collar. Every dog has its day, and with their new side peg gear auto debuting this weekend, will DAWGMA’s be this Sunday?
Sleepers
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Ever since their 4-can-grabbers in 2015, **1391 **
has seen the importance of scoring in autonomous, and certainly kept that in mind with their design this year. Their auton high boiler shooting at Westtown gave their alliance the win in QF4-2, and would’ve pushed them onto the finals after SF2-3 if their alliance couldn’t gotten just one more climb. This will be the inaugural Seneca MAR District Event for the Metal Moose, and if they can tune their auton to score a gear on the side peg as well, you might just see some antlers behind a blue banner on Sunday afternoon. -
**1089 **
won their third Innovation in Control Award since last year at Mount Olive, but failed to get picked for the eliminations. They were called in as a backup robot for the #8 alliance in QF1-2, but were knocked out after they were the only alliance members to successfully activate a touchpad. Although they’ve never won a MAR District Event before, Mercury will be boiling as they continue to heat up as the season progresses. -
Somehow falling to the last pick of the #6 alliance at Westtown, **1640 **
missed out on the finals for the first time in three MAR District Events, and for only the third time since winning the Newton Division in St. Louis back in 2013. But, they led the #2 alliance to victory at Seneca in 2015, and their Innovation in Control Award worthy swerve drive back in full force, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they could *dew *it again. -
At the 2016 Seneca MAR District Event, **2729 **
had to decline an offer to join a playoff alliance due to drivetrain issues, but don’t let the past fool you. This season they are weather-hardened after losing in the quarterfinals at Westtown, and with improved autonomous modes and LED feedback to help with gear intake and delivery, the newest forecasts predict them to clap-clap-woosh to the top.
Dark Horse
- **219 **
reached the finals for just the second time in their 19-year-history last weekend at the Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event, where they captained the #6 alliance. They had the second highest qualification auto score at Bridgewater and the fourth highest rotor score after having the third highest the week prior at Mount Olive. Still bracing for their first event win, will the third time be the charm for Impact this season?
Rookies
- It may be Week 4 already, but this will be the debut competition for MAR’s second rookie team of 2017, 6327
, the Tin Men. Best of luck this weekend travelling down the yellow brick road for the first time.
Chairman’s
The 2017 Seneca MAR District Event will see 5 teams compete who have already earned the Chairman’s or Engineering Inspiration Award so far this season.
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**4575 **
is making their MAR debut this week at the Seneca MAR District Event, but they earned the Entrepreneurship Award at the Palmetto Regional earlier this season and are seeking their first ever Chairman’s banner. These Girl Scouts have been earning culture changing awards since their inception, but they have yet to win at the district championship level. Is starting rookie team 6327 this year the recipe for success that the Tin Mints need to earn the gold? -
Last week’s Springside-Chestnut Hill Engineering Inspiration Award winners **1218 **
have become a household name in MAR. Like in 2015, they left their first district event of the season without a culture changing award but earned EI at their second. Will this season continue to mirror 2015 for Vulcan with a Chairman’s win at their third and final district event? -
Teams winning Chairman’s at their home event is not unheard of; just look at 708 at Hatboro-Horsham. After leaving Hatboro empty handed, **1647 **
is looking to make their home event their sanctum and when you ask them, the devil is always in the details.
Up-and-Coming Culture Changers
- 2015 Upper Darby Rookie Inspiration Award winners **5401 **
already took home Engineering Inspiration at Hatboro-Horsham earlier this season, but these Fightin’ Robotic Owls have their eyes on the prize and are still hoping to bring a Chairman’s blue banner back to their nest.
Festival de Robotique Montreal Regional
- **2590 **
has competed at the Festival de Robotique Montreal Regional twice before in 2012 and 2015, and won it on the #1 alliance both times. But, they’re winless so far this season after losing the Hatboro-Horsham MAR District by a G13 foul, and will have to compete against Quebec’s own 3360 and 3390 and NY’s quick gear cycler 229 as they travel up to Canada’s Sin City. Will Nemesis be able to make it a three-peat this weekend?
Hudson Valley Regional
Three MAR teams will be traveling just 5 miles across the New Jersey - New York border to the inaugural Hudson Valley Regional this weekend in the land-that-doesn’t-know-how-to-switch-to-districts to compete against top teams such as Tech Valley’s #1 pick but only semifinalists 20, 5-time winners 639, 4-time winners 1796, 2-time winners and last year’s NYC Regional finalists 3419, and impressive rookies 6300.
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Two of these teams, **303 **
and 1923, have already teamed up this season and won together at the 2017 Mount Olive MAR District, with 303 following it up with a win at their own Bridgewater-Raritan MAR District Event last weekend as well. 303 and 1923 also traveled up to the Empire State together back in 2015 when they competed at the Tech Valley Regional, with both being eliminated in the semifinals. Will 303, who are just one match off winning two-thirds of their matches, and Mount Olive Excellence in Engineering Award winners 1923, be able to get together again this weekend to bring gold back across state lines? -
Following the two Mount Olive MAR District Event champions up the Hudson is 3314
, who just recently switched out of attending the Greater Pittsburgh Regional instead. They went unpicked at the Southwest Virginia CHS District Event after ranking 34th of 38 teams, but were the first pick of the #5 alliance at Mount Olive. Although they lost in three quarterfinal matches, if they’re able to get their 10 kPa auto working by this weekend, the Mechanical Mustangs might be a frontrunner in the race.
