diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f40fbd8..fdda7be 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ _site
.jekyll-cache
.jekyll-metadata
vendor
+.DS_Store
diff --git a/_blogs/README.md b/_blogs/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c10f6bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_blogs/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,312 @@
+# Blog System Guide
+
+This directory contains all blog posts for the Wolverine Robotics website.
+
+## Quick Start: Adding a New Blog Post
+
+### Step 1: Create Blog Directory Structure
+
+Each blog post must be in its own directory with the following structure:
+
+```bash
+_blogs/your-blog-title/
+├── blog.md # Your blog content
+└── assets/
+ └── thumbnail.png # Required thumbnail image (800x600 recommended)
+```
+
+**Create the structure:**
+```bash
+mkdir -p _blogs/your-blog-title/assets
+touch _blogs/your-blog-title/blog.md
+```
+
+**Naming convention**: Use lowercase with hyphens (e.g., `my-awesome-robot-build`)
+
+### Step 2: Add Thumbnail Image
+
+**IMPORTANT**: Place a `thumbnail.jpg` file in the `assets/` folder. This image will be:
+- Displayed as a card thumbnail on the blog index page
+- Used as a hero banner on the blog post page (350px height, limited to 50% viewport height)
+
+**Recommended specs:**
+- Filename: `thumbnail.jpg` (exactly - required)
+- Dimensions: 800x600 pixels (or 4:3 aspect ratio recommended)
+- Format: JPG, PNG, or SVG
+- Size: Under 500KB for faster loading
+
+**Pro Tip:** During development, you can duplicate `thumbnail.jpg` to create placeholder images:
+```bash
+# Create placeholder images for your blog
+cp _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/thumbnail.jpg _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/placeholder-image.jpg
+```
+Then replace them with real images later!
+
+### Step 3: Add Front Matter
+
+At the top of your blog file, add the following front matter:
+
+```yaml
+---
+layout: blog-post
+title: "Your Blog Post Title"
+subtitle: "A short subtitle describing the post"
+date: 2025-11-12
+author: "Your Name"
+excerpt: "A brief summary of the blog post that appears on the blog index page."
+---
+```
+
+**Required fields**:
+- `layout`: Must be `blog-post`
+- `title`: The main title of your blog post
+- `date`: Publication date in YYYY-MM-DD format
+
+**Optional fields**:
+- `subtitle`: Appears below the title on the blog post page
+- `author`: Name of the author
+- `excerpt`: Summary text shown on the blog index page
+
+### Step 4: Write Your Content
+
+After the front matter in `blog.md`, write your blog content using Markdown:
+
+```markdown
+## Your First Section
+
+Write your content here using **Markdown** formatting.
+
+### Subsection
+
+- Bullet points
+- Are easy to create
+
+1. Numbered lists
+2. Work too
+
+### Code Examples
+
+You can include code blocks:
+
+\```java
+public void autonomousInit() {
+ robot.resetSensors();
+}
+\```
+```
+
+### Step 5: Add Additional Images (Optional)
+
+You can add more images beyond the thumbnail:
+
+1. **Add your images** to the assets folder:
+ ```bash
+ _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/image1.jpg
+ _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/robot-photo.png
+ ```
+
+2. **Reference images** in your blog post:
+ ```markdown
+ 
+ ```
+
+**Quick Tip for Development:**
+If you don't have all your images ready yet, duplicate `thumbnail.jpg`:
+```bash
+cp _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/thumbnail.jpg _blogs/your-blog-title/assets/temp-image.jpg
+```
+This lets you preview your blog layout while you gather real photos!
+
+## Blog Post Structure
+
+### Recommended Structure
+
+```markdown
+---
+layout: blog-post
+title: "Your Title"
+date: 2025-11-12
+author: "Your Name"
+excerpt: "Brief summary"
+---
+
+## Introduction
+
+Start with an engaging introduction.
+
+## Main Content
+
+### Section 1
+Content here...
+
+### Section 2
+More content...
+
+## Conclusion
+
+Wrap up your post.
+
+---
+
+*Additional notes or credits*
+```
+
+## Markdown Formatting Guide
+
+### Headers
+```markdown
+## Level 2 Header
+### Level 3 Header
+#### Level 4 Header
+```
+
+### Text Formatting
+```markdown
+**Bold text**
+*Italic text*
+***Bold and italic***
+`Inline code`
+```
+
+### Links
+```markdown
+[Link Text](https://example.com)
+[Internal Link]({{ '/blog/' | relative_url }})
+```
+
+### Images
+```markdown
+
+```
+
+### Lists
+```markdown
+- Unordered
+- List
+- Items
+
+1. Ordered
+2. List
+3. Items
+```
+
+### Code Blocks
+````markdown
+```language
+code here
+```
+````
+
+Supported languages: `java`, `python`, `javascript`, `bash`, `cpp`, etc.
+
+### Blockquotes
+```markdown
+> This is a quote
+> It can span multiple lines
+```
+
+### Tables
+```markdown
+| Header 1 | Header 2 |
+|----------|----------|
+| Cell 1 | Cell 2 |
+| Cell 3 | Cell 4 |
+```
+
+### Horizontal Rule
+```markdown
+---
+```
+
+## Examples
+
+See the existing blog posts for examples:
+- `my-first-blog.md` - Basic blog post structure
+- `competition-recap-2024.md` - Blog with code examples and sections
+
+## Testing Your Blog Post
+
+After creating your blog post:
+
+1. **Build the site**:
+ ```bash
+ bundle exec jekyll build
+ ```
+
+2. **Serve locally** (optional):
+ ```bash
+ bundle exec jekyll serve
+ ```
+ Then visit `http://localhost:4000/blog/` in your browser
+
+3. **Check for errors** in the build output
+
+## Tips for Great Blog Posts
+
+1. **Use descriptive titles** - Make it clear what the post is about
+2. **Write engaging excerpts** - This appears on the blog index, make it compelling
+3. **Break up long content** - Use headers to organize your content
+4. **Include visuals** - Images make posts more engaging
+5. **Add code examples** - Technical posts benefit from code snippets
+6. **Proofread** - Check for spelling and grammar errors
+7. **Link to related content** - Connect to other pages or resources
+8. **Update dates** - Use the actual publication date
+
+## Complete Blog Workflow
+
+### Standard Workflow (With Thumbnail)
+
+```bash
+# 1. Create the folder structure
+mkdir -p _blogs/my-new-post/assets
+
+# 2. Create the blog file
+touch _blogs/my-new-post/blog.md
+
+# 3. Add thumbnail image (REQUIRED)
+cp ~/Desktop/my-thumbnail.jpg _blogs/my-new-post/assets/thumbnail.jpg
+
+# 4. (Optional) Add additional images
+cp ~/Desktop/robot-photo.jpg _blogs/my-new-post/assets/
+
+# 5. Edit blog.md and add your content
+# (Use your favorite text editor)
+
+# 6. Build and test
+bundle exec jekyll build
+```
+
+### Example Complete Blog Structure
+
+```
+_blogs/
+└── competition-recap-2024/
+ ├── blog.md # Main blog content
+ └── assets/
+ ├── thumbnail.jpg # Required thumbnail (shows on index & banner)
+ ├── robot-field.jpg # Additional images
+ └── pit-crew.jpg # More images
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Blog post not showing up?
+- Check that the date is not in the future
+- Verify the front matter is correctly formatted
+- Ensure the file is in the `_blogs` directory
+- Check for YAML syntax errors in the front matter
+
+### Images not displaying?
+- Verify the image path is correct
+- Make sure you're using the `relative_url` filter
+- Check that the image file exists in the assets folder
+- Try rebuilding the site
+
+### Build errors?
+- Check YAML front matter syntax (proper indentation, quotes)
+- Look for unclosed code blocks
+- Verify all liquid tags are properly formatted
+
+## Questions?
+
+If you have questions about adding blog posts, contact the webmaster or check the Jekyll documentation at https://jekyllrb.com/docs/
diff --git a/_blogs/competition-recap-2024/assets/pit-crew.jpg b/_blogs/competition-recap-2024/assets/pit-crew.jpg
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diff --git a/_blogs/competition-recap-2024/blog.md b/_blogs/competition-recap-2024/blog.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+---
+layout: blog-post
+title: "2024 Regional Competition Recap"
+subtitle: "Our journey through the regional championships"
+date: 2024-10-15
+author: "Team Captain"
+excerpt: "A detailed look at our performance at the 2024 regional competition, including our strategies, challenges, and key takeaways."
+---
+
+## Competition Day 1: Qualification Matches
+
+Our first day at regionals was intense! We competed in 6 qualification matches and learned a lot about our robot's capabilities.
+
+### Match Highlights
+
+- **Match 1**: Started strong with a 15-point autonomous routine
+- **Match 3**: Alliance victory with a combined score of 145 points
+- **Match 5**: Recovered from a mechanical issue mid-match
+
+### Technical Challenges
+
+During Match 4, we experienced an issue with our intake mechanism. Our pit crew worked quickly between matches to diagnose and fix the problem:
+
+```python
+def diagnose_intake():
+ # Check motor current draw
+ if intake_motor.current > MAX_CURRENT:
+ print("Motor overheating - check for obstructions")
+ return False
+
+ # Check encoder readings
+ if abs(intake_encoder.position - target_position) > TOLERANCE:
+ print("Encoder drift detected - recalibrate")
+ return False
+
+ return True
+```
+
+## Competition Day 2: Alliance Selection & Playoffs
+
+After qualifying in 8th place, we were selected by the 3rd seed alliance!
+
+### Playoff Performance
+
+Our alliance made it to the semifinals. While we didn't advance to finals, we learned valuable lessons:
+
+1. **Communication is key**: Clear driver-operator coordination improved our cycle times
+2. **Defensive strategy**: Successfully defended against opposing alliances in crucial moments
+3. **Adaptability**: Adjusted our strategy based on alliance partners' strengths
+
+### By the Numbers
+
+- Total matches: 11
+- Win-Loss record: 7-4
+- Average score: 82 points
+- Highest score: 128 points
+
+## Competition Photos
+
+Here are some photos from the competition:
+
+
+*Our robot in action during a qualification match*
+
+
+*The amazing pit crew working hard between matches*
+
+*Note: These are placeholder images. Replace with actual competition photos!*
+
+## Lessons Learned
+
+1. **Mechanical reliability** is crucial - redundancy in critical systems
+2. **Practice makes perfect** - more drive team practice needed
+3. **Scouting data** helped us understand our competition
+4. **Team spirit** kept us motivated through challenges
+
+## Looking Forward
+
+We're already planning improvements for the next competition:
+
+- Redesigning the intake system for better reliability
+- Adding sensors for improved autonomous accuracy
+- Strengthening the climbing mechanism
+- Expanding our autonomous routine options
+
+Thank you to our mentors, sponsors, and families for supporting us throughout this competition!
+
+---
+
+*Want to learn more? Check out our other blog posts or contact us!*
diff --git a/_blogs/my-first-blog/assets/example-image.jpg b/_blogs/my-first-blog/assets/example-image.jpg
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diff --git a/_blogs/my-first-blog/blog.md b/_blogs/my-first-blog/blog.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c10e9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_blogs/my-first-blog/blog.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+---
+layout: blog-post
+title: "My First Blog Post"
+subtitle: "An introduction to our robotics team's blog"
+date: 2025-11-12
+author: "Team 5596"
+excerpt: "Welcome to the Wolverine Robotics blog! This is our first post where we introduce our team and share what we're working on."
+---
+
+## Welcome to Our Blog!
+
+This is an example blog post for **Wolverine Robotics Team 5596**. We're excited to share our journey, experiences, and technical insights with the robotics community.
+
+### What We'll Be Sharing
+
+- Competition updates and results
+- Technical tutorials and build logs
+- Team events and community outreach
+- Behind-the-scenes looks at our robot development
+
+### Our Robot This Season
+
+We've been hard at work designing and building our competition robot. Here are some highlights:
+
+1. **Drive System**: We implemented a swerve drive for maximum maneuverability
+2. **Intake Mechanism**: Custom-designed to handle game pieces efficiently
+3. **Autonomous Programming**: Utilizing computer vision and path planning
+
+### Including Images
+
+You can add images from your blog's assets folder like this:
+
+
+
+Here's another example with a team photo:
+
+
+
+*Note: In production, replace these placeholder images with your actual photos!*
+
+### Code Examples
+
+Here's a sample of our autonomous code:
+
+```java
+public void autonomousInit() {
+ // Initialize autonomous mode
+ robot.resetSensors();
+ pathPlanner.loadPath("auto-path-1");
+}
+
+public void autonomousPeriodic() {
+ // Run autonomous commands
+ pathPlanner.followPath();
+}
+```
+
+### Conclusion
+
+Stay tuned for more updates as we progress through the season. Follow us on social media and check back here regularly for new content!
+
+---
+
+*Posted by {{ page.author }} on {{ page.date | date: "%B %d, %Y" }}*
diff --git a/_config.yml b/_config.yml
index af1248f..35d9540 100644
--- a/_config.yml
+++ b/_config.yml
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ collections:
permalink: /:name/
blogs:
output: true
- permalink: /blog/:title/
+ permalink: /blog/:path/
defaults:
- scope:
path: ""
type: blogs
values:
- layout: post
+ layout: blog-post
header_pages:
- _pages/home.html
- _pages/about.html
diff --git a/_layouts/.gitkeep b/_layouts/.gitkeep
deleted file mode 100644
index 01baf9f..0000000
--- a/_layouts/.gitkeep
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Empty folder but to be filled out later
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/_layouts/base.html b/_layouts/base.html
index 4cef610..9a46616 100644
--- a/_layouts/base.html
+++ b/_layouts/base.html
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
{% if page.title %}{{ page.title }} | {% endif %}{{ site.title }}
+
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@
+ 
Team 5596
- 
- 
+ 
+ 
+
+