2019 National Tournament: Cornell University

[EastStroudsburg13]

It really wasn't a great day for anyone except Kennedy - winning score for C was 231, and Solon Ms bombed roller as well...

Kennedy had enough of a lead that even if Solon's roller coaster got 1st, they'd still be in 2nd.

Which would have honestly been kind of ridiculous to think about. A score of 153 is an all-time great score, and for that score to still not be enough for first speaks to how good Kennedy was.

Also, a little curiosity from this year: this is the first time Solon MS has ever gotten 2nd at nationals. They'd been 1st many times, and 3rd a couple, but never 2nd.

[Umaroth]

It really wasn't a great day for anyone except Kennedy - winning score for C was 231, and Solon Ms bombed roller as well...

Kennedy had enough of a lead that even if Solon's roller coaster got 1st, they'd still be in 2nd.

Which would have honestly been kind of ridiculous to think about. A score of 153 is an all-time great score, and for that score to still not be enough for first speaks to how good Kennedy was.

Also, a little curiosity from this year: this is the first time Solon MS has ever gotten 2nd at nationals. They'd been 1st many times, and 3rd a couple, but never 2nd.

From what we saw over here in California, it didn't surprise us. Kennedy demolished us every time we faced them. Granted, we weren't at our strongest, but they definitely showed how powerful they were. They have the same combination as Troy: some insanely strong events, and California-honed consistency in everything else. Out west here, a single bomb completely ruins you at states, and they definitely knew that and were prepared for nationals because of it.

[SONica]

Kennedy had enough of a lead that even if Solon's roller coaster got 1st, they'd still be in 2nd.

Which would have honestly been kind of ridiculous to think about. A score of 153 is an all-time great score, and for that score to still not be enough for first speaks to how good Kennedy was.

Also, a little curiosity from this year: this is the first time Solon MS has ever gotten 2nd at nationals. They'd been 1st many times, and 3rd a couple, but never 2nd.

From what we saw over here in California, it didn't surprise us. Kennedy demolished us every time we faced them. Granted, we weren't at our strongest, but they definitely showed how powerful they were. They have the same combination as Troy: some insanely strong events, and California-honed consistency in everything else. Out west here, a single bomb completely ruins you at states, and they definitely knew that and were prepared for nationals because of it.

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

[Umaroth]

Which would have honestly been kind of ridiculous to think about. A score of 153 is an all-time great score, and for that score to still not be enough for first speaks to how good Kennedy was.

Also, a little curiosity from this year: this is the first time Solon MS has ever gotten 2nd at nationals. They'd been 1st many times, and 3rd a couple, but never 2nd.

From what we saw over here in California, it didn't surprise us. Kennedy demolished us every time we faced them. Granted, we weren't at our strongest, but they definitely showed how powerful they were. They have the same combination as Troy: some insanely strong events, and California-honed consistency in everything else. Out west here, a single bomb completely ruins you at states, and they definitely knew that and were prepared for nationals because of it.

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

[TheCrazyChemist]

From what we saw over here in California, it didn't surprise us. Kennedy demolished us every time we faced them. Granted, we weren't at our strongest, but they definitely showed how powerful they were. They have the same combination as Troy: some insanely strong events, and California-honed consistency in everything else. Out west here, a single bomb completely ruins you at states, and they definitely knew that and were prepared for nationals because of it.

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

Isn't that basically all competitive states. I'm not sure how it works for Eagle Hill and Bay Academy or Harlan Rowe, Bala Cynwyd, and SSA, but I know that high competitiveness at the state level leads to better performances at nationals. It kind of happened in CT, although it was mostly the effect of a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work. But it makes more sense that if a team has to work a lot harder than other teams at nats to win states, then they will do better at nats. Pretty intuitive.

[SONica]

From what we saw over here in California, it didn't surprise us. Kennedy demolished us every time we faced them. Granted, we weren't at our strongest, but they definitely showed how powerful they were. They have the same combination as Troy: some insanely strong events, and California-honed consistency in everything else. Out west here, a single bomb completely ruins you at states, and they definitely knew that and were prepared for nationals because of it.

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

Just found out Jeffrey Trail won SoCal 2018 national bid by one point. Wow....

[Umaroth]

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

Just found out Jeffrey Trail won SoCal 2018 national bid by one point. Wow....

I thought we forgot about that

[kate!]

What you're saying is Churchill/Kennedy rivalry actually helped them to become a stronger team at national. What an interesting thought!

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

Isn't that basically all competitive states. I'm not sure how it works for Eagle Hill and Bay Academy or Harlan Rowe, Bala Cynwyd, and SSA, but I know that high competitiveness at the state level leads to better performances at nationals. It kind of happened in CT, although it was mostly the effect of a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work. But it makes more sense that if a team has to work a lot harder than other teams at nats to win states, then they will do better at nats. Pretty intuitive.

I'd say not so much for New York div B, as most years it isn't too competitive and there's always a dominant school. But for div C that's probably how it works considering the 3 schools that are all at the same level.

[IvanGe]

Absolutely. That's also the case with Jeffrey Trail and us down in SoCal. In both states, neither team would be quite as strong without having to get through the other at states.

Isn't that basically all competitive states. I'm not sure how it works for Eagle Hill and Bay Academy or Harlan Rowe, Bala Cynwyd, and SSA, but I know that high competitiveness at the state level leads to better performances at nationals. It kind of happened in CT, although it was mostly the effect of a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work. But it makes more sense that if a team has to work a lot harder than other teams at nats to win states, then they will do better at nats. Pretty intuitive.

I'd say not so much for New York div B, as most years it isn't too competitive and there's always a dominant school. But for div C that's probably how it works considering the 3 schools that are all at the same level.

although non-competitive states still can produce competitive schools, i.e. community middle school. don't forget that

[kate!]

Isn't that basically all competitive states. I'm not sure how it works for Eagle Hill and Bay Academy or Harlan Rowe, Bala Cynwyd, and SSA, but I know that high competitiveness at the state level leads to better performances at nationals. It kind of happened in CT, although it was mostly the effect of a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work. But it makes more sense that if a team has to work a lot harder than other teams at nats to win states, then they will do better at nats. Pretty intuitive.

I'd say not so much for New York div B, as most years it isn't too competitive and there's always a dominant school. But for div C that's probably how it works considering the 3 schools that are all at the same level.

although non-competitive states still can produce competitive schools, i.e. community middle school. don't forget that

Yeah I definitely agree. A lot of factors go into producing competitive schools, not just state competitiveness.