CANADIAN PACIFIC REGIONAL
MARCH 2024
For the first week of competitions, our team participated in the Canadian Pacific Regional Event in Victoria, B.C., alongside 36 other teams hailing from 4 different countries. This event provided an excellent opportunity for us to connect with new teams and kick off the week with a strong start!
PRACTICE DAY
The tournament opened to teams all across British Columbia, as teams opened their pits and readied their robots to start practice matches! With many teams coming from far and wide, the venue opened to teams ready to test their capabilities as students adjusted their robots autonomous, and began preparing their robots for inspection that same day. After getting inspected, Team 359 participated in practice matches on the main field to ensure our robot was ready for the next two days of tournaments. By participating in practice matches, our drive team was able to get some good practice in and watch out for the competition! By the end of the day, our students were confident our robot was ready. They prepared omiyage, or souvenirs, to put out for people passing by our pit the next day.
QUALIFICATION MATCHES
On the second day of the tournament, we started with qualification matches, where two alliances of three teams competed against each other by scoring points. In these matches, alliances gain ranking points that determine the placement of teams. Our team read our robot for peak performance as the qualification matches began. For each match, we recognize the importance of communication; we collaborate with our alliance partners to devise a cohesive strategy. We carefully positioned the robot on the field, ensuring precise alignment. As the match bell sounded, our skilled drivers adeptly guided our robot through agile maneuvers, swiftly collecting notes and depositing them into our amplifier and speaker. With the clock ticking down, our robot made a final, daring move, deftly securing itself onto the chain and scoring through the trapdoor as time expired. With each match, our autonomy continued to improve as we adjusted our code and the placement of the robot during these matches. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, celebrating our team's hard-fought victory alongside our alliance partners. Our teammates' unwavering spirit and determination launched our success in the Qualification matches. Our final ranking was 1st with a record of 16-0-1 (win-loss-tie)!
CELEBRATING TEAM SPIRIT
After the qualification rounds concluded, the significant alliance selections took place. As the top-seeded team, we joined forces with Team 4270: Crusaders, Team 8338: Boucherie Bears Robotics, and the formidable Team 6902: STRIKE. Bolstered by our well-defined strategies and unwavering determination, we entered the playoffs with confidence, prepared to overcome any obstacle that came our way. Unfortunately, Team 8338 experienced an issue with their swerve drive and could not play on our alliance. We continued with Team 6902: STRIKE and continued as the first seed alliance! Leveraging our collective teamwork and grit, we powered through the competition and ultimately won the tournament! However, we didn't stop there. Our autonomous program shone to the judges, and we were awarded the Autonomous Award, an award given to a team that has shown consistent, reliable, high-performance autonomous actions, the first in our team's history!
ALLIANCE STRATEGY
The tournament was a lively and supportive environment that encouraged teams to showcase their mechanical skills and build community by meeting and working with other teams. During the tournament, we did not just compete but also learned from other teams as we continued through our qualification matches. Thanks to our head mentor's coaching, our driver and operator knew better to avoid robots across the field and score notes efficiently in each game. Team 359 also enjoyed watching other teams compete. It noted their different strengths, making sure to scout their strategies to develop counter plans. The lessons we learned over the weekend inspired us to continue improving and innovating, while the positive atmosphere fostered a spirit of camaraderie and collaboration.
IMUA WAIALUA
As we make our way home, we stay grounded and focused on enhancing our robot, always seeking opportunities for improvement. Our mentors' constant support and dedication to innovation are the bedrock of our achievements. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the teams who participated in the 2024 Canadian Pacific Regional. It has been an honor to compete alongside such exemplary teams this season. With an eye on the future, our students are excited to engage in upcoming tournaments and embrace the challenges that await them. This incredible journey has been a profoundly rewarding experience, and we eagerly anticipate the many escapades that lie ahead.
Check out our other FRC Competitions!