DCmp, week 6

​This past week, Team 4909 had the incredible opportunity to compete at the New England District Championships (DCMP). Alongside the top teams from across the region, we came together in an intense and inspiring celebration of robotics. The event not only showcased the best of New England's talent but also determined which teams would earn a coveted spot at the World Championships. It was a thrilling and memorable experience for everyone involved!

During the qualification matches, Team 4909 was placed in the Ballard division. With determination and grit, we fought through a tough schedule, finishing with a 7-5 record. Despite facing several challenges and needing to adapt quickly, we gave each match our all. By the end of quals, we landed as the 23rd seed. However, our efforts didn’t go unnoticed, we were honored to be the first pick of the 5th alliance, a testament to the strength and consistency of our performance.

​For alliance selections, we sent two of our team members, accompanied by our trusty R2-D2 droid, to represent Team 4909. We were honored to be selected by the 5th seed alliance and thrilled to team up with two outstanding partners: Team 8708, Ov3R1y K0Mp13X, and Team 95, the Grasshoppers. Both teams brought experience, innovation, and strength to the field. Together, our alliance entered the elimination rounds with determination, collaboration, and a shared drive to compete at our best.

Despite our best efforts, we finished with a 1-2 record in the playoffs and weren’t able to perform at the level we had hoped for. Still, the experience was invaluable, and we’re proud of how we persevered. Most exciting of all, we officially qualified for the World Championships!

​While matches were underway on the field, the pits were buzzing with excitement of their own. One highlight was the return of our very own R2-D2 droid, a crowd favorite. To our surprise, our pit neighbors also brought along an R2-D2 of their own! By the next day, even more R2-D2s had rolled into the event, turning the competition into an unofficial droid gathering. We even managed to snap an amazing group photo featuring all the R2 units and their creators proudly standing behind them. A perfect snapshot of the creativity and community that make FIRST events so special.

​Throughout the event, our team had several meaningful interactions with pit judges. In total, we were visited three times by different groups, including those evaluating robot design and overall team attributes. These visits gave us the chance to share our technical innovations, team dynamics, and the hard work that went into our season. It was a great opportunity to highlight what makes Team 4909 unique both on and off the field.