Subscribe by RSS
Winnovation returns from Iowa Regional, looking towards next competition
By Riley Story
Starting on March 21, Day 0 of the Iowa Regional began at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls. The Early Crew of Winnebago’s Winnovation robotics team began making especially needed changes to their robot, attaching last minute components. That day, we were able to gain the ability to hang our robot as well as shoot notes into the amplifier. That night, the rest of the team showed up to the hotel, all ready to see our robot compete the next day.
On March 22, we awoke to a snowfall, and here we thought that we escaped the snow! We gathered everyone and made our way to UNI, having a good time listening to songs in the vans. Once there, the pit crew and drive team went to work on the robot, getting it ready for the day. Over the course of the day, we played six qualification matches, winning four and losing two. By the end of the day, we were in 11th place. Students in the stands were kept busy with scouting, which is collecting data on all the other robots competing. Other than the robots competing, our presentation team presented the Impact Presentation to a group of judges. That night at the hotel, the team gathered to discuss the next day, who should we accept or decline, what are the odds of us being an alliance captain, and many other questions.
March 23 was the last day of the Iowa Regional. We awoke that morning with an idea in our minds of how the day should go – at least according to the data gathered by our scouts. In the morning, we still had three qualification matches to compete in, and by lunch we had won all three! Continuing into alliance selection we had the opportunity to be captain of the 8th seed alliance. With who was available, we picked FRC Team 8744, the Leviathans, and FRC Team 5275, T.I.M.E. Bots. Together, we were the 8th seed alliance.
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that prepares young people. Robotics semifinal games run in a double elimination format, allowing for a team to lose once, but still have the ability to come back and win the regional. In our first semifinals match, we went up against the 1st alliance seed. We put up a tough game against the regional’s best robots. We lost our first semifinal 70-82, only a 12 point difference! We came back and played in the second bracket, where for our second semifinal we were up against another fierce team, Alliance 4. Both teams put up a good fight and after the dust settled, we came out victorious. Winning 83-46 we continued into the matches. Unbeknownst to us, semifinal match 10 would be our last. Going against Alliance 2 we would lose 74-95. We put up our best and we went as far as we could.
Going into the Iowa Regional, our robot wasn’t functioning the best, we didn’t have certain mechanics, any good auto paths to use, and among other things weren’t fully prepared. But finishing in the 10 match of the semifinals, being the alliance captain of the 8th seed was amazing! Going from where we were to where we finished, tied for 5th, was a great accomplishment that everyone should be proud of. Regardless of how we did, everyone had a great time and made good memories. We next were able to look towards the 7 Rivers Regional competition in La Crosse, Wis. We have a great spirit, a great robot, and we are ready for any challenge that comes at us!
