Hey guys! This is former Team member Christoph Uhl speaking! I am glad to see the team really getting to the core of the game and finding the most ravenous strategies there are. I helped with a few other members come up with a prototype idea yesterday, to my surprise, they already built the prototype!! I'm glad to see everyone working as hard as ever trying to solve this year's puzzle.

Stay classy my dear readers, and enjoy your day!
Christoph Uhl: Former Veteran

Hey everybody,

It's that time of year again! Blog posts are starting up and the build season is in full swing. Here's what's been happening:

It's been a crazy week so far! Team 3245 and 3166 are hard at work on one of the most exciting games in robotics history (maybe not the MOST exciting...which would be a drone game...but still). We've finished our thorough analyzation of the game and we're starting to brainstorm and prototype designs. As most of you know, in this adrenaline packed game, robots have to stack boxes and cans (aka bins and trash cans, aka totes and containers, aka green and yellow, aka big game things). Now, even though this doesn't sound like crazy off the shizzle raise the roof type of fun, it actually is! We can make our robots any size, we don't need bumpers, and the game is filled with interesting challenges and niches.

Stay tuned for more blogs by each of the veteran and rookie kids on the team.

Captain signing off! Stay classy! (You could say Ron Burgundy rubbed off on me) 

-George Matus: Veteran Team

OK, so here's the gist of the preparation for Utah Regional 2014:
Monday, we met to continue work on our floor loader, shooter, and get practice bot working. We worked on our floor loader, shooter, but didn't get practice bot working.
Tuesday, the same thing. Practice bot was supposed to be driving, but didn't today.
Wednesday, we finally got all the parts on Practice bot, which was driving. After dinner with Brighton (5159), we rallied and finished the sub-systems, and packed up for Utah. We dropped off our robot for Inspector practice, and hoped for the best.
OK, so here's the gist of the Utah Regional 2014:
Thursday (Day 1): We arrived at around 0800, and after a brief meeting regarding Regional goals and team jobs, we moved inside the Event Center, and began to set up our pit, transfer sub-systems to CompBot (Westie), and pass inspection. We attended 3 practice matches and passed inspection a little after lunch. We continued to fine-tune our shooter.
Friday (Day 2): We arrived with hope that Westie would do good in Qualification matches. Beginning with the second match of the day, 3245 tried to win every match, but with problems with our shooter and other robots, we didn't win as many as we hoped. We finished the day ranked about 12th.
Saturday (Day 3): We arrived hoping to claw our way up to at least 8th seed. This didn't happen, and we ended up at 11th seed. We were lucky to be picked by the 5th seed alliance, headed by 3230, and also paired with 3405. After losing our first QF match, the 5th seed alliance rallied to win Quarter Finals 2-1-0. We proceeded to play against the 1st seed alliance, with 399, 1619, and 2594, which would be hard. After winning the first match with a technical foul, we lost, then won our matches, for a record of 2-1-0 in Semifinals. In finals, we lost 2-0, due to the exceptional opposing alliance. We received the Finalist award, and enjoyed seeing all the teams.
Overall, Team 3245 was surprised by the success we enjoyed at Utah 2014. Following the regional, we bagged up Westie with the floor loader and shooter. We plan to fine-tune everything for Las Vegas Regional 2014. 
Thanks to all those who helped Team 3245, such as hard-working students, Mentors (Thanks sooooo much), Parents, and Mascots. I would also like to thank all the teams that attended Utah 2014 for making it a good regional.
Thanks,
Conner Doggett