In the second round, the team discovered while setting up at the competition table that one of their attachments was missing! They couldn't find it (and never did), but coincidentally, the judges had decided to take a 5 minute break. Isaac (our driver) scrambled to scavenge parts that weren't crucial to other attachments (e.g., a lid to a container...), and Coach Vickey ran back to the pit and came back with a couple boxes loaded with spare pieces.

In a few minutes, Isaac had assembled something that didn't look much like the lost attachment (and, of course, had never been tested), but which he thought could do the job. It did!!! (Later that afternoon, it also "stood in" perfectly for the third round.) However, the "oil rig" mission was not firmly attached to the mat, and when the robot drove up against it to retrieve the oil barrels, all four legs of the rig came loose from the mat! Somehow, the robot was still able to retrieve 2 of the 3 barrels, and the remaining barrel didn't fall into the water, so they managed a score of 380.

The tournament was run with 4 pairs of tables; 2 pair on one side of the gym, and 2 on the other. Those competing on the tables on one side of the gym would start, while those competing on the tables on the other side of the gym were preparing for the next match. This year, teams weren't asked whether they were ready ("thumbs up") before the countdown and start signal was given.

In the third round, while our team was preparing, they were told that the other side of the gym had not yet gone ahead of them. When a countdown and "go" was heard, our team thought it was for the match on the other side of the gym. The team opposite our table started, but immediately pulled their robot back thinking they must have been mistaken. Shortly, some people began yelling "Go! Go!", and finally both teams started (our team significantly ahead of the other). There was a lot of initial confusion and looking to see if the refs were going to restart the match. They didn't say a word, so on it continued! As the robot was 2 seconds away from completing it's last mission perfectly (dragging the truck with oil barrels back to base) the time expired. The truck and barrels out of base at the buzzer cost them 55 points, giving them a final score of 345.



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