Last week, the Coronado Robotics team packed up their 2016 robot creation and headed down to Flagstaff Arizona to compete in the Northern Arizona Regional. The Regional was held at The Northern Arizona University campus. After a 10 hour drive, most of the team wanted to unwind but there was work to be done. The teams pit had to be setup so that work could begin on the robot immediately the next day. Thursday consisted of practice matches as well as robot work.

The competition officially opened on Friday, with the opening ceremonies. This was a time to thank the hosts and the volunteers, as well offer up opportunities for important figures to say a few words. The mayor of Flagstaff, as well as the CEO of Microchip Technologies spoke about the importance of FIRST Robotics and wished all 53 competing teams good luck. The day started with qualifying matches in which ranking are established for the next day’s alliance pick and elimination rounds. The day concluded with an awards ceremony and then robot work.

Following the matches, the teams got together for a team social, a time for teams to get together, eat dinner and hang out. Later, the teams split up to enjoy either a movie or a team game night.
The Final day started bright and early with opening ceremonies and more qualifying matches.

Qualifiers lasted up until lunch, and then it was time for the alliance pick. This was where the top ranked teams would choose which two teams they wanted to be allied with for the final elimination matches. Team 2996 was picked in the 2nd round by Rocky Mountain Robotics, 662, the district 20 robotics team. Since they were the last seed alliance, Coronado, and its alliance was going up against the top seeded alliance.

Coronado was eliminated in the first round, but were ranked 24th overall.

The competition allowed many opportunities for the team to find problems and invent solutions. Even though the team didn’t win, they left feeling good about their performance, but hungry for more.

The team has one week until they pack up the robot once again and head up to Denver and play at the Colorado Regional, held at the Denver University campus.

Wish the team luck as they compete for a spot at the 2016 FIRST Robotics Championship.