It’s cold, it’s raining, you’re inside at work anyway.
Follow the LigerBots online! The New England Regionals start today and we have the schedule of matches, so here are the times for the Newton LigerBots:
Thursday:
Quals 1: 1:45pm
Quals 17: 3:37
Quals 22: 4:12
Quals 31: 5:15
Friday:
Quals 45: 10:54am
Quals 57: 1:04pm
Quals 70: 2:35
Quals 77: 3:24
Quals 90: 4:55
Quals 97: 5:44
Saturday:
Quals 106: 9:58am
Quals 114: 10:54
So far this season the matches have run relatively on time. You can watch all the action here.
The game this year is called “Recycle Rush” and involves teams picking up and stacking both boxes and barrels. Each match has 2 teams of 3 robots each. The team of 3 is called an “alliance.” In any given round the LigerBots will be either red alliance or blue alliance; the colors only matter for that particular match. Each match is scored with all 3 teams earning a point total together, then the team’s individual scores are essentially averages of how they do in all their matches over the course of the tournament. The teams are ranked, and that ranking changes constantly.
On Saturday the tournament will enter a semi-final round in which the top 8 teams get to pick others to join their alliance, then compete for the top spot. At the last tournament the LigerBots finished on the #2 alliance.
It makes more sense when you spend a full day watching.
Ligerbots ended up 8th after 2 days of qualifying rounds in a field of at least 75 (they were assigned to the “Newton” Division (as in Isaac) ironically. That meant an advance to the quarterfinals (for the first time I think!). The overall winner of the 600+ team competition was from the Newton Division so it was definitely a competitive division to be watching. Kudos to all on great teamwork and sportsmanship. (And along the way team members got to visit the “Innovation Faire” and “Scholarship Row”).
I have great respect and admiration for the coaches, mentors and active parents who have built such a great team and educational experience.
Somehow, I missed this post entirely until Claire commented. I’m happy they are doing so well, but I wish I had watched some of it. Long ride home. Congrats and be safe.