What A Weekend

What A Weekend it was, first starting with Radio problems all throughout the qualification matches, until the last 2 matches, when the radio was replaced, and we were able to prove what we were worth. Then we end up pairing up with two great alliance partners in the pairings, who knew are true potential, we could not have been happier with who we were with. Then together we advanced on through the quarterfinals, and then met are very emotional and heartfelt demise in the semi-finals, but only after doing the unthinkable when we out stratagized the monster alliance in the first round of semi's. Overall a great great showing for the drive team and the rest of the team as a whole, we could not have done any better with scenario we were placed in. We walked away with the Entrepreneurship Award, the Prestigious Woody Flowers Award, which was given to are very own and beloved Mr. Broderick, and also a great deal of pride because everyone truly gave it their all.
-Nice Job GaelForce!

Please Check Out All The Matches As Well As The Awards At:
http://www.soap.circuitrunners.com/2006/movies/Boston/

Quarter Finals

Our alliance won autonomous mode and we were able to score many 3-point balls in. Then during the match we collected some balls and then shot them in for 3 points each. We didnt make it up on the ramp on time but our alliance won the match with a score of 36 to 19.

The second round we made two 3-point balls in during autonomous. Our alliance won autonomous and we moved on to collecting balls to shoot during the offense period. The final results for this match were 41 to 22. GaelForce is moving onto the semini finals.

10th Qualifying Match

Match #67 10:45 AM
Our alliance - Teams 213 and 1277
Red alliance - Teams 1909, 69, and 157

In autonomous mode we were able to get 4 balls in the center goal and our alliance ended up winning the autonomous mode. During the match, assabet was playing tons of defense on us and we were able to push them around. Our alliance partners helped us out and blocked them while we were shooting. At the end of the match, we were able to get up on the ramp as well as one of our alliance partners. The other alliance was able to get one of their robots up. While the scores were being counted, we knew that it was going to be a close match. The match results were TIED at 47 to 47.

9th Qualifying Match

Match #60 9:54 AM
Our alliance partners - Teams 1277 and 1962
Red alliance - Teams 1909, 571, and 1568

We finally found out what was wrong with the robot and we were able to fix it. It is now working like it did when we were at UTC. In autonomous mode we were able to get 5 out of 10 3-point balls in the center goal. We won autonomous mode and then moved on to collect balls for the offense period. There was some heavy defense that was being played, and a flag was called on the other alliance for pinning. We still managed to sneak in and take some shots. We made many 3-point shots during the match and then drove up on the ramp for an additional 5 points. The results for this match were Blue alliance 46 to red alliance with 7.

8th Qualifying Match

Match # 54 3:48 PM
Alliance Partners - Red - Teams 1568 and 1735
Blue alliance - Teams 1768, 1975 and 88

In auto mode we scored three 3-point balls and then lost auto mode. Then during the match we scored a couple 3-point balls. At the end of the match we were able to use the kicker wheels and get our selves up on the ramp. The results for this match were 39 to 27. The Blue alliance won this match.

7th Qualifying Match

Match #49 3:30 PM
Our alliances - Red - Teams 529 and 1757
Blue alliance - Teams 1699, 1973, and 1975

Our alliance won autonomous mode and we were able to get two 3-point balls in. When the drivers took control we were the back bot. We collected many balls and then shot one in during the offense period. At the end of the match we got up on the ramp. We won this match with the score of Red alliance 46 and blue alliance 5.

6th Qualifying Match

Match #44 3:00 PM
Our alliance partners - (Blue) Teams 125, and 1973
Red alliance - Teams 1100, 1761, and 549

In autonomous mode we didn't score any points. We lost autonomous mode but ended up getting three 3-point balls in during the offense period. We acted as the back bot and collected many balls and then went to try and shoot them but we were blocked by the opposing teams. Team 1973, our alliance partner, tried to help block the other teams but they were too strong. At the end, we were able to get up on the ramp for an extra 5 points. The results for this match were blue alliance 27 and red alliance 59.

5th Qualifying Match

Match #37 2:06 PM
Our alliance partners - 1153 and 233 (Red alliance)
Our opponents - 549, 88, and 1916

In autonomous mode we got 1 out of 10 3-point balls in but lost the autonomous mode. During the match also made one in the 3-point goal. Our alliance partner team 233 was able to get two 3-point balls in the center goal and was also able to play defense on team 88. The final results for the match was Red alliance 22 to blue alliance 36.

4th Qualifying Match

We played in match #26 at 1:00 PM. We lost auto mode because a ball was jamed in the roller system and we were unable to shoot.We then acted as the back bot and collected as many balls as possible for the offense period. During the offense period, we scored one 3-point ball. Our alliance partners were 1779 and 1592. The alliance we were up against was 1725, 839, and 1277. We were able to get up onto the ramp as well as 1592. Team 1779 tried to get up on the ramp but they ended up tipping over. Our alliance recieved 2 penalities, 1 for inappropiate robot interaction. We won this match with the score of 33 to 30. Also, team 1277 got DQ!!

3rd Qualifying Match

At 11:24 AM we played in match #20. In autonomous mode we were not able to get any 3-point balls in becasue a ball got jamed in the roller system but we were still able to win autonomous mode. We got four 3-point balls in during our match. GaelForce and team 1511 were able to get themselves up on top of the ramp at the end of the match. Our opponents recieved 2 penalties, 1 for being offsides. Our alliance partners were 1511 and 213 on the blue alliance. On the red alliance were teams 1699, 1761, and 839. Our alliance won this match with a score of 61 to 0.

2nd Qualifying Match

At 10:36 AM we played in match #12. During auto mode we score three 3-point balls. The controls on the left shooter were off preventing us from shooting properly. We were able to get up on to the ramp with the help of the kicker wheels and another alliance got up on the ramp as well. With us on the red alliance were teams 1685 and 1152. Teams 1100, 1733, and 1965 were on the blue alliance. Our alliance won the match with a score of 37 to 12

1st Qualifying match

Yesterday was a day full of practice rounds and correcting any minor twitches on the robot. The pit crew was busy moving the motor from the outside to the inside of the roller system. This will hopefully allivate any possibility of a robot raming into our robot and sheering off the wire on the motor. The strategy team was busy scouting teams for todays quailifying matches. Last night, a strategy meeting was held to compile all the field sheets, discuss other robots strenghts and weaknessess as well as our own.

Today, at 9:54 AM we played our 1st qualifying match. Match #5. Our alliance partners (blue alliance) were teams 40 and 69. We were up against teams 1403, 1919, and 571 (red alliance). In autonomous mode we were hit by team 571, Paragon, and we missed all the 3-point balls. We lost autonomous but came back strong in the match itself. At first, we played back bot and picked up all the balls in-order to be ready to shoot when the blue goal became activated. On offense we scored four 3-point balls in the center goal and our alliance ended up winning the match with a score of 39 red alliance and 55 blue alliance.

The Fight To Be The First In Boston, Sieges This Coming Weekend

With a strong week of practice under the Drive Team's Belt along with a high morale amongst the Team members, GaelForce prepares to head out to the First Ever Boston Regional this weekend. After some disappointing robot troubles two weeks earlier in the semi-finals, the Team has moved on, learned from the experience, and plan to come out stronger than ever. The pits have been cleaned up, reorganized, and now include a comprehensive hand-out sheet created by one of the Team members. It entails all the highlights of this year's robot and can also be handed out to any Team that has questions about them in the pits. GaelForce, as ready as they'll ever be, is prepared for the challenge ahead of them and their is no doubt, it is going to be one interesting weekend, filled with many teams, From as far as Brazil and California, to as close to home as the Nashoba High School Team from Lancaster Ma., each is hungry to become the first ever winners of Boston's first Regional Competition. The team, after some hotel troubles with the Hyatt over accommodating them, has now made a switch to the Radisson Hotel, making them closer to the competition site. The competition itself will be held at the Agganis Arena, 9:00 am on Saturday, March 25th, for more info check out: http://www.bostonfirst.org/
-Good Luck GaelForce!

The Past Weekend's Events In Hartford

Though the team was unable to repeat the Gold Medal finish as in last years competition at the Hartford Regional, the team came out equally satisfied if not more, with the performance of the Robot as well as the strong efforts from each team member. With The highest score in the two days of competition at 108 and being seated in the first position after the qualifying rounds, winning 9 out of the 10 matches, GaelForce surely proved they were a force to reckon with. Jaws dropped at the sight of the double-barreled shooter emptying into the three point goal during the practice rounds, and from then on, GaelForce had really set the pace for the rest of the competition. For the fight to the finals, GaelForce drafted Team 20, who proved a strong alliance during the qualification matches and Team 571, who were more than willing to do what they needed to, to aid in a win. Together, with a strong and well articulated strategy the alliance of three went out, ready to take on their opponents. The quarterfinals seemed to be over before they started when the triple alliance squad went out and won their first and second rounds. But trouble really became eminent when they squeaked out, by only two human player balls, a 67 to 65 win, in the first round of semifinals. Unfortunately after a devastating blow from the opposing alliance in the beginning of the second round, which knocked a motor lead running the roller system up to the shooters, off, GaelForce was forced to score only one pointers rather than the multiple three's they were so used to. From then on it was hard to watch as the team struggled to get all the points they could manage, but it was not enough against the powerful drive train of the Bobcats and the versatility of the Ace's High Bot. They went on to lose the following matches 78-23 and 89-32. The team certainly did not leave empty handed though, they went on to win the Motorola Quality Award as well as the Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship award, two highly revered honors in the competition. With heads held high and with a lot of confidence, the team moves on to their upcoming Regional in Boston, March 24 and 25, undissapointed and proud of the team and their machine.
-Good Luck GaelForce!

Welcome To The New Blog Spot Of Team 126!

This is the home of GaelForce's New Blog Spot. It will be an ongoing account, documenting the everyday happenings of Team 126 and their upcoming Regional in Boston all the way to The Nationals In Atlanta, Georgia. From the very first practice rounds to the bittter end of the finals, this blog will become the gateway into a detailed account of Team 126's every move along the road to victory.
-Good Luck GaelForce!