Waterloo Regional Finalists

This past Thursday, Friday and Saturday the Red Devils competed in the 2009 FIRST Waterloo Regional Tournament, hosted by the University of Waterloo. The team utilized their time during Thursday's practice rounds to modify and perfect a competition ready robot prepared to take on any opponent. Friday was a bit of a disappointment, as defects and glitches resulted in poor performance in the round-robins stage of the tournament. However, the team showed poise and determination and was able to fix the robot so that we went undefeated during the final round-robins matches on Friday. Our excellent finish placed us in 12th overall at the end of the round-robins, and we were picked by the 6th place alliance to go into the elimination rounds.

Our alliance of Team 781, Team 2200 and Team 1334 went through the quarterfinals in emphatic fashion, winning our best of three series in two games. The semi-finals were a bit tougher, with a close first match going to our alliance. The second match resumed after a mechanical timeout by the other team, and we lost in another hard fought game. Mechanical problems still dogged the opposition, and our alliance graciously donated our timeout to the other team in the true spirit of FIRST. We emerged victorious at the third match, with a close game that was blown wide open in the final seconds. Our alliance then entered the final match, heavy underdogs against the number one seed of the tournament. Our team fought hard, but was defeated after two games.

As well as our finalist finish, the team was also awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award, one of the most prestigious awards of the tournament. This award also qualified the team for the 2009 FIRST World International Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. This tournament features elite teams from around the world competing against each other for the title of world champion. Our great showing is unsurpassed in our entire history, and the team is ecstatic to go to the World Championships for the first time.

This upcoming Thursday to Saturday the team will be competing in the Greater Toronto Regional at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. We encourage you to come in a witness a FIRST tournament for yourself, as the Red Devils look to build on their great start.

We'd like to thank Team 781 and Team 2200 for their support as alliance teammates!

Look Below for full match videos courtesy of our friends from Team 781!

-Quarters Match 1 Win 30 - 52
-Quarters Match 2 Win 32 - 49

-Semis Match 1 Win 50 - 68
-Semis Match 2 Loss 52 - 44
-Semis Match 3 Win 69 - 91

-Finals Match 1 Loss 66 - 48
-Finals Match 2 Loss 97 - 54