FRC 2022 Off-Season Event: Tidal Tumble

On October 29th, Team 359, the Hawaiian Kids traveled to Ventura, California to compete in Team 4414 HighTide’s FRC offseason event, Tidal Tumble. Team 359 drove to Ventura County Fairgrounds to load and prepare the robot for the practice matches. Before practice matches, Team 359 enjoyed shopping at the Camarillo Premium Outlets and eating lunch at In ’N Out. After setting up, we spoke to our pit neighbor, Team 4, who later became our alliance partner, about their shooter and gave them some tips on how to fix it! We tested our intake, shooter, and climber, and had a great practice day, overall.

Team 359 arrived early the next morning, excited to begin qualification matches with our new operator. Each team competed in a total of 11 qualification matches over the two competition days. We reviewed matches at the end of the first day, and did our best impressions of the 30-second tide warning while beginning to work on a pick list to prepare for alliance selections. At the end of qualification matches, Team 359 ranked 3rd out of 31 teams competing with a score of 9-2-0 (Win-Lose-Tie).

We were selected by Team 4414 HighTide, the 1st seed alliance captain, who also invited Team 4 Element, forming the 1st seed alliance! We strategized with our alliance partners and began preparing for playoffs. Our alliance moved through the brackets, making it to the finals against the 2nd seed alliance. Team 359 won both of the two finals matches played, finishing with a final score of 146-112 and going undefeated during the playoff bracket! Tidal Tumble was our final offseason event in Rapid React, and we are excited to start the new season in 2023! See you next year!

FRC 2022 Off-Season: Chezy Champs

On September 21st, Team 359, The Hawaiian Kids traveled to San Jose for the 2022 Chezy Champs Off-Season Event. During and leading up to the tournament, Team 359 learned many valuable lessons as we built a completely new robot. New and returning students on Construction learned about different design methods and construction techniques, while Programming students learned to program in a new language, Java. With help from FRC Team 3310, Black Hawk Robotics, our team was able to create a brand new cohesive robot.

After Qualification matches, Team 359 ranked 8th out of 40 teams. As 7th Alliance Team Captain, the Hawaiian Kids selected Teams 604 Quixilver, 694 StuyPulse, and 846 The Funky Monkeys. The alliance fought strongly, but we were unfortunately eliminated through the new double elimination playoff format. Although we lost during the playoffs, we still tried our best with our new robot and operator and had a great tournament! We are excited to compete in our next off season event: Tidal Tumble at Ventura, California on October 29th, 2022!

FRC 2022 Championship

Over the 2022 FRC Season, We faced many challenges, from fragile robot pieces to inaccurate code, and all throughout the season, we were able to overcome those challenges through hard work and the help of all our alliance partners from each competition to help us reach the world championship! On April 18, Team 359 traveled to Houston, Texas, for the 2022 FIRST Robotics World Championship at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Traveling over eight hours, our driver’s team began preparing for the first day of the tournament, while our Chairman’s team practiced their presentations by rehearsing each part to make sure they were prepared. On the first day of the competition, Team 359 woke up early to set up our pit and prepare the robot for inspection and practice matches later that day.

On the second day, Team 359 began qualification matches, with each team playing a total of 10 matches in each division. All throughout the qualification matches, Team 359 faced many difficulties, although, we were able to overcome them and Team 359 ended with a record of 4-5-1, (Win-Lose-Tie), placing us 38th out of 76 teams in the Roebling Division. After concluding our qualification matches, Team 359 began preparing for Alliance Selections.

During Alliance Selections, Team 359 was invited by Team 4143, MARS/WARS, Team 5895, Peddie Robotics, and Team 3197, HexHounds, completing the 7th Seed alliance. With each alliance ready, we coordinated with our alliance partners and prepared for playoffs against the 2nd Seed alliance and won one out of the three matches played. Unfortunately, we lost in the playoffs against the 2nd Seed alliance and concluded the competition for Team 359.

Although we lost in the playoffs, we are so glad that we had the opportunity to compete in the 2022 FIRST Robotics World Championships. Not only are we glad to reconnect with teams from this year’s regional events, but we are also glad we had the opportunity to see new and old teams in person all in one place from different countries and states. This season has allowed us to learn and improve on what we already know by giving our students the opportunity to meet and reconvene with other students in person. We can’t wait for the next season to see what FIRST has in store for us and to see our fellow FIRST Robotics teams during the next season.

FRC Week 6: Utah Regional

On April 6, Team 359 traveled to West Valley City, Utah, to compete at the 2022 Utah Regionals at the Maverik Center. During load-in, our team members set up the pit and we prepared to compete, along with teams from around the country, by going through inspection and beginning practice matches to prepare our drive team for the 2022 Utah Regional! On the second day of the competition, Team 359 began qualification matches, starting their first match of the day with a win! With each team competing in a total of 11 matches, Team 359 faced many difficulties during the competition, but we still managed to come out on top! With a record of 9-2-0 (Win-Lose-Tie) and a total of 36 ranking points, Team 359 came 1st out of 40 teams, making us Captains of the 1st Seed Alliance.

Once qualification matches concluded, Team 359 prepared for Alliance Selection and arranged our top picks. Once teams were ready, Alliance Selection began with Team 359 inviting Team 2122, Team Tators, ranked 3rd of 40. To close off Alliance Selection, Team 359 and Team 2122 invited Team 6844, Team Provotypes who were ranked 19th of 40, as their 2nd pick, completing the 1st Seed alliance. With each alliance decided, we coordinated with our alliance partners and prepared for playoffs against the 8th Seed Alliance. Winning both matches and moving Team 359 and the 1st Seed Alliance onto the semifinals against the 5th Seed Alliance.

During the semifinals, Team 359 won two out of the three matches which moved us onto the finals. Team 359 made sure to prepare for the final matches against the 2nd Seed Alliance and our last regional matches for the season. Our Alliance won two of the three matches played, winning the first match by 13 points, losing the second match by 2 points, and winning the final match by 10 points! Team 2122, Team 6844, and Team 359 were crowned Utah Regional Champions, securing another blue banner for Team 359 in the 2022 FRC Season! We are glad that we could attend the 2022 Utah Regional and can’t wait for the championship the following week where we hope to see our alliance partners as well as other teams from across the world.

FRC Week 5: Hawaii Regional

On April 1st, Team 359 prepared for Hawaii Regionals at the Stan Sheriff Center in the University of Hawai’i, Manoa. Team 359 prepared, along with fellow Hawaii teams as well as teams from Australia and Japan, to begin practice matches for Hawaii Regionals. We used every opportunity to practice and prepare our robot and once practice matches concluded, it was time to start qualification matches. Playing in a total of 12 qualification matches, spanning over a day-long, Team 359 faced many challenges during the competition but we managed to come out on top! Ranking 1st out of 24 teams, with a record of 11-1-0 (Win-Lose-Tie), and becoming the captain of the 1st Seed Alliance.

As the captain of the 1st Seed Alliance, we arranged our top picks and prepared for Alliance Selection later that second day. During Alliance Selection, Team 359 started by inviting Team 368, Team Kika Mana, ranked 7th of 24. Rounding out Alliance Selection, Team 359 and Team 368 invited Team 8853, Yukikaze Technology. Beginning elimination matches, Team 359 along with their alliance partners faced off against the 8th Seed Alliance, winning both matches and qualifying for the semifinals. During the semifinals, Team 359 faced off against alliance 4 and again, won both matches! Winning the first by 14 points and the second match by 4 points, Team 359 advanced into the finals against the 2nd Seed alliance.

Although Team 359 ended the tournament as finalists, we were later awarded Excellence in Engineering for our robot design. We are glad we were able to compete in the fifth week of this year’s FRC season with fellow Hawaii teams as well as teams from outside the country! We look forward to our next competition and can’t wait to see our fellow teams at Championships!

FRC Week 2: Ventura County Regional

On March 9th, Team 359 prepared for the second week of FRC Season by driving to Port Hueneme for the Ventura County Regional! Team 359 woke up early in the morning to prepare the robot and pit in preparation for inspection and practice matches later that day. On the second day of the event, Team 359 prepared to compete in qualification matches which played out in the span of two days with each team competing in 11 matches. Despite many challenges during the event, Team 359 was able to overcome them and ranked 2nd out of 40 teams with a record of 10-1-0 (Win-Lose-Tie) at the end of qualification matches.

Once qualification matches were over, Team 359 began preparing for Alliance Selection. Team 359 was chosen as the first pick by the 1st Seed Alliance Captain, FRC Team 4414, HighTide. To finish off the first alliance, Team 4414 and Team 359 selected Team 5089, Robo-Nerds. During elimination matches, Team 359 faced off against the opposing seed alliance and won both matches, winning the first match by 73 points and the second by 94 points, qualifying for the semifinals. Once in the semifinals Team 359 won both of their matches again! Winning the first match by 49 points and the second match by 43 points, qualifying for the final matches against the opposing seed alliance. Team 359 along with Team 4414 and Team 5089 were able to win both matches! Winning the first by 38 points and the second by 36 points, bringing an end to the competition and Team 359 winning a blue banner. The team is grateful for this and we are glad we could compete in the second week of this year’s FRC season! We were glad we could meet and reconnect with teams from this week’s build season and couldn’t be prouder for our alliance partners to experience this competition with us!

FRC Week 1: Hueneme Port Regional

On March 3rd, Team 359 traveled to Ventura, California to compete in the Hueneme Port Regional with teams from around the country. On March 4th, the Hawaiian Kids drove to the event hosted at Port Hueneme, Ventura. During load-in, our drive team members and pit crew members set up the pit, inspected and tested the robot, and prepared for practice matches to prepare our drive team members. On the second and third days of the event, Team 359 prepared to compete in qualification matches, allowing each team to compete in 12 matches. Over the 12 matches, we competed and allied with many teams and faced many challenges but were able to overcome them ending qualification matches ranked 3 of 35 teams with a record of 9-3-0 (Win-Lose-Tie).

On the 3rd day of competition, Team 359 prepared for Alliance Selections once qualification matches ended, becoming the captain of the 2nd Seed Alliance and partnered with Team 973, Iron Claw, and Team 2945, Steel Mustangs. Team 359 made it to the Semifinals where they won two out of three matches, winning the first match by 34 points, losing the second match by 35 points, and winning the last semifinals match by 9 points, moving the 2nd Seed alliance to the finals against the 1st Seed Alliance. Alas, Team 359 lost by 17 points in the finals and were eliminated from the competition. Despite not winning the competition, Team 359 tried our best and learned a lot as the majority of our students experienced their first FRC Competition! The tournament allowed us to gain a sense of competition and create new relationships with other teams. We look forward to our next competition and can’t wait to see what everyone has in store!

FRC Off Season Event: Beach Blitz

On November 4th, Team 359, The Hawaiian Kids, traveled to Aliso Viejo, California to compete in Beach Blitz. The offseason event was hosted by the Orange Country Robotics Alliance, Team 3309 (Friarbots), Team 3476 (Code Orange), Team 4276 (Surf City Vikings), and Team 5199 (Robot Dolphins from Outer Space). We competed along with teams from all over California. On November 5th, Team 359 drove to Aliso Niguel High School to participate in the event. During load-in, our drive team and pit crew members set up the pit in preparation for the events taking place the following day.

On the second day of the event, Team 359 prepared to compete in practice and qualification matches, giving the opportunity for our new drive team members to gain more experience. The qualification matches took place in a span of two days with each competing team playing 10 matches. Despite facing a few setbacks during the event, Team 359 overcame all obstacles and ranked 20 of 34 teams with a record of 4-8-0 at the end of qualification matches.

For Alliance Selection on the third day, eight alliances were formed. Despite being ranked 20 of 34, Team 359 was chosen as the first pick by 3rd alliance captain, Team 4738, Patribots. To finish off the alliance, Team 4738 and Team 359 selected Team 1836, The MilkenKnights. Unfortunately, in the elimination matches, Team 359 lost both quarterfinals matches, losing the first match by 4 points and the second by 31 points, eliminating us from competing in the rest of the playoffs. Although they lost, the team tried their best and were able to persevere and overcome the challenges they faced. The team is grateful for this chance to better appreciate the level of skills and competitiveness required to be able to compete in and win a tournament. We enjoyed meeting or reconnecting with other teams and are looking forward to the 2022 FRC Season!

FRC Off Season Event: Tidal Tumble

On October 14th, Team 359 traveled to Ventura, California to compete in Team 4414’s, High Tide, inaugural offseason FRC competition. Teams from all over California participated, making our team the only out-of-state team to participate in the event. On October 15th, the Hawaiian Kids drove to the event hosted at Ventura County Fairgrounds. During load-in, our drive team members and pit crew members set up the pit, inspected and tested the robot, and prepared for practice matches to prepare our new drive team members for other future FRC competitions.

On the second and third days of the event, Team 359 prepared to compete in qualification matches, allowing each team to compete in 12 matches. During the event, we faced various obstacles but managed to overcome them to compete in the tournament. Team 359 ranked 4 of 20 teams with a record of 7-5-0 (Win-Lose-Tie) by the end of qualification matches. For Alliance Selections on the third day, there were only 6 Alliances due to the small number of teams competing. Team 359 became the captain of the 3rd Seed Alliance and partnered with Team 3512, Spartatroniks, and Team 3759, SMARTBOTS. Unfortunately, Team 359 was eliminated in the quarter finals, losing the second match by 2 points.

Although Team 359 lost, we tried our best and learned a ton, especially the new drive team members and those traveling with the team for the first time! We learned about the levels of skills and competitiveness that are necessary for competing and winning tournaments. Our team had such a fun time both competing and making new friends! We are looking forward to our next offseason event, Beach Blitz 2021!