The Goon Squad Team #3802 (AKA the Long Shots) competed in the SWOSU FIRST Robotic State Qualifier Saturday, Feb. 2.
This event hosted thirteen teams. Each team was grouped randomly with one another to form a two team alliance for each of the six matches in the qualifying rounds. At the conclusion of the qualifying rounds the teams were rank in the order of matches won, qualifying points, and the ranking points (tie breaker points earned for points of losing alliance).
At intermission of the qualifying rounds with 3 of 6 matches completed, the Goon Squad after losing their first three matches were ranked at the bottom position in thirteenth place.
Brian Chaney knew that if the team was to make it to state they would have to win the last three qualifying matches.
The Goon Squad changed their game strategy to play more defensive and have their alliance partner run interference with the opponents.
This strategy change paid off with the Goon Squad leaving up to their formal name “the Long Shots” because they won their final three matches finishing the qualifying round with a respectable 3-3 record. This was just enough to move them into eighth position and a chance to be picked for the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals the top four teams pick another team to form new alliance. A best of three match playoff between the number one & four seed, and, number two and three seed teams determines which alliances will play in the finals.
The Raiders Team #5150 was seeded number 3 and picked the Goon Squad as their alliance partner.
In the semi-finals our alliance won the first and third matches and advanced to the finals losing to teams #4378 and #6735 both from Newcastle.
Summary of our winnings at the competition – Won the Rockwell-Collins Innovation Award given to the team that not only thinks outside the box, but also has the ingenuity and inventiveness to make their designs come to life. Was on the Alliance finalist team placing fourth overall in the competition and qualified for the State Competition held at SWOSU on March 2.














