This year's rookies

[StephLee]

Our team is a rookie this year, and I was wondering what all the veteran teams thought of this year's rookies. How did they(we) perform compared to the general expectations for rookies, who do you think were the most promising rookies, etc.

[E. Wood]

Personally, I think any rookie team that made a robot and got it shipped on time did a wonderful job. Being a rookie myself (same team as steph) i know just how hard it was to do this. But i noticed at the chesapeake regional that some rookie teams (1507, 1524....) seemed to be more like veterans than rookies.

[EricH]

I've seen the whole range. LA: two rookies, almost behind each other in the pits. 1515 was in the finals and one of the best rookie teams (as was 1622). On the other hand, 1697 needed help quite often. Yes, they drove. They even scored twice--under the goal. But they kept having technical problems-anything from a wheel being lower than its counterpart to having a drive wheel fall off during a match. They will return. My point? ALL rookies have the same problems, just some have more than others. ALL gain experience. Some will become champions rapidly (980 comes to mind-4th year team and winning regionals since last year, maybe before). Others will just grind along for years. But its not about arriving, its about the journey.

[Koko Ed]

We had an amazing group of rookies at FLR. Particularly Rolling Thunder which is in postion to be a significant player in all of FIRST.

[Mirza95vx]

There are so many great rookies. It has been an amazing first FIRST year for me.
1559 is an amazing team Wish you guys were going to natz with us.
1596 also another great team.
1547 Our Waldo girls we love you guys r the best

Too many more

Really impressive and so inspiring.

[Chris Sturrock]

way too many good rookies.

1511, you guys are great. that last match in the GTA was insane!
1559, awesome looking robot, great endeffector design, great driving. I hope to get to play against you next season.
1680 (our sister team)
and all the many others out there...

[Kims Robot]

I know my team number says rookie, but as many know already I am not. This year, I am paticularly impressed with the amazing caliber of the rookie teams.

As said already, any rookie who ships a robot (complete or not) is a winning team. As long as the kids get something out of it, and the program will continue... its amazing.

But looking around at all of the rookie teams across the nation this year, there are so many that have competed and done very very well. As Ed said... FLRC would not have been the same without the rookies. There were at least 3 Rookies in the top 8. Several rookie teams have helped win regionals. All of the rookie teams that have recieved the RAS award have done something truely incredible. Many rookies are going to multiple regionals, and winning multiple awards.

While the awards and the standings are not the true meaning of FIRST, they are a testament to how amazing our rookies are this year.

I know a lot of this can be attributed to the shear wealth of knowledge that is out there, and so many mentoring teams, and people that have been on teams starting new teams. FIRST is growing in leaps and bounds, and this years rookies are truely something to be proud of :) I know I am certainly amazed at my kids and our whole team. Never did I dream a rookie team could do this well!

Congrats to all the amazing rookie teams out there... 1559, 1547, 1567, 1509 (our partners!), 1590, and all the other great rookie teams of 2005!!!

(Oh yeah, and thanks for the nod Ed! :) and all our other fans ;-))

[thoughtful]

Watching some of those matches, i thought that the rookies stood up to the challenge very well. They pushed, capped and made very smart plays. Any team that took part in FIRST; practiced GP; came up with a design and tried to implement it, is a winner. This year's rookies did much more than that, many of them had awesome robots, they were willing to work through problems and most of all they were thankful for having the oppurunity of being a "FIRSTier".

Some rookies that stick out in my mind are: 1511, 1503, 1547 and all the other great teams of this magnificient year. Something tells me that you, the rookies, still have some surprises under your sleeve. :rolleyes:

[Ian Curtis]

1519 was the best rookie team I saw (of course I only went to one regional) There robot was definitely complex enough to be a third year team. And it worked (always a plus). I don't think I ever saw them not compete due to a robot failure and I saw them cap three tetras on the center goal :ahh:. Not very many veterans did that (but many thought it would be impossible). Yay for Rookies raising the bar!

[Keith Chester]

When you're talking to the coach of a rookie team you mentored tell you about how he's thinking of quitting his esteemed position of football coach to dedicate more time to his team? You hear something.

When he tells you his rich and spoiled kids, who were overly competitive, by the end of the first day was running to their opponents to offer help in fixing their robot and shaking their hands after losing a match? You realize something.

When he tells you that even though the robot spent its first day barely getting by, that every single member of his team still has unparalleled excitement and not a single one gave up hope? You catch a hint of something.

When he tells you about how, when telling his team that while they may not get a chance to go to nationals, if the opportunity arose (which it did), who would be willing to fundraise and spend the enormous amount of money required to go to nationals, and had every single hand raise? You see something.

When this entire team comes up to you when you pass by their pits and congratulates you on a great bot that knocked them out of the running, thanks you for all the help you gave them, and tells you that if you have any projects to help FIRST in ANYWAY they will be there? You know something.

That something?

That FIRST is working, still alive amongst the rookie teams. And that, no matter what happens now, there will be another team with the true ideals of FIRST, working to spread it amongst other schools.

While I talked mostly about one team, I met a few rookie teams like this. They have the right idea. Rookie teams like this make any observor say that rookies this year are an outstanding success.

[dangerousdave]

There were several good rookies at the Peachtree Regional (http://www2.usfirst.org/2005comp/Events/GA/awards.pdf) , among them 1611 & 1648. Team 1648, Grady High & Turner Broadcasting, almost won the competition with 832 & 1102 but 1648 did win the Rookie All Star. They have a very simple and consistent robot with a great autonomous mode and deserve to be at the Championship's in their first year! Dave

[JamesBrown]

As a rookie this year The one thing that impressed me the most was how well the rookies worked together. At UTC all the rookie teams definitly got to know each other. When ever a rookie team won an award the other quickly went to the aisle to congratulate them. I dont think any of the rookie teams had every thing they needed but any thing we were missing we quickly got it usually from another rookie team, every one seemed to fit in and caught on quickly

[MattB703]

We were lucky enough to be the #5 seed alliance captains at the Greater Toronto Regional. We chose 2 rookies as our partners (1596 and 1680). We had a great alliance and were defeated by another alliance who also had a great rookie team (1511). I think this year's crop of rookies are incredible.

[Starke]

With my experience with rookies at FLR:

-They performed just as well as many of the veteran teams did
-They knew the game and strategy just as well as most of the veterans
-It seems that they were well prepared, many of them having success

This brings another good point. The successfulness of the rookies came partly from the helpfulness of the veterans. I know that many veteran teams helped out rookies this year. That really shows what FIRST is all about.

Some rookies to my knowledge with success: 1567 (very simple and effective design), 1559 (performed as well as many veterans with a great design), 1511 (winning Toronto Regional), and many others.

Congratulations to all the rookies!

[dmurdz]

Congrats to both 1507 and 1524 for excellent showings in Maryland at the Chesapeake Resgional.

[Laura 1547]

I know there are alot of amazing rookie teams out there but some that stick out in my mind that I saw at FLR or GTA were 1511 Rolling Thunder...1559 Shadow Claw...and 1503 Spartonics

[Kyle Love]

From BMR and MWR I liked a couple of rookie teams. Definitely 1646, they won rookie all-star and qualified top 8 at MWR. 1525 also impressed me, they just play the game in a style that I really like...I don't really know why I like 'em, but I like 'em. :]

[Paulmustang]

I would like to congratulate our Team San Diego Rookie teams Granite Hills High School 1527 for winning the LAS VEGAS REGIONAL, that's outstanding and Poway High School team 1622 for winning the Highest Rookie Seed, you guys did great in the finals.

[Conor Ryan]

The 3 best rookie i've seen, and all 3 are definetly are here to stay are:
1676- The PiOneers
1511- Rolling Thunder
1626- Falcon Robotics

Watch out for all 3, they are all good and have direction for the future.

[kjohnson]

I have to say something for 1610 - our next door neighbors and rivals. They did way better than any of us had ever expected. They were the highest rookie seed at VCU and took us to the semi-finals. 1610 surprised everyone this year with their camera and their reliability to cap.

[mrmummert]

I have to say something for 1610 - our next door neighbors and rivals. They did way better than any of us had ever expected. They were the highest rookie seed at VCU and took us to the semi-finals. 1610 surprised everyone this year with their camera and their reliability to cap.


Hello...

Thank you Kyle for your kind words. Its been a big learning year for us.
I did'nt really get on the team until sometime in January and then
at the beginning did'nt know what to do. (I usually stood around with my hands in my pockets)It was a little hard to get the kids
motivated at first because they had no idea what they were working
toward or what would happen to us. Motivation picked up when we
acually had a running working robot and it took off from there.
The've been quick to learn everything about robotics and mostly know
just what to do when we have a problem.We've been very lucky in that we have a great bunch of kids and folks on our team.


Mrs Burgess has been a tireless leader for us. She not only teaches
full time, but manages the team and all the details and handles the local FIRST Lego team too. She deserves the lions share of the credit for who and where we are. We were also lucky to have Oscar Babb as a seasoned
FIRST veteran (from team 616 of course!) Sometimes when we had no
idea what to expext from FIRST or which way to go with something we would ask Oscar and he was usually right when he told us what to do. Our engineer/mentors are a great bunch of guys. We have some very good programming and pnumatics guys. Hopefully the'll be back with us next year.
Me i fit somewhat in the middle of everything filling in on everything
where-ever there is a need.(scouting,robot building,sponsorship,team
spirit,ideas and research,having one of my kids on the team,marketing,
team support,rules,and catching the little details that Mrs Burgess might miss etc. whatever i can do).Even being here on the net checking and reading things related to all of this has helped. Also i plan on helping Mrs Cook from the Nasa/VCU regional to help build other first teams and sponsors.
All of this is part of what FIRST is about.

It seems that everone has been able to find some area to fit into
and fill the gaps for our team. This is important because we are
such a small team to begin with (7 students,2 teachers,6 mentors
for a total of only 15 team members). It was important for us to
do well this year so we could show and encourage others to join
us next year. We had an idea that we could do pretty well, but
we had no idea how well. We did better than some of the better
veteran teams and feel very lucky that we did so well and that
we are going to Nationals. This too is important so we can build
the team. One of the sponsors we got recently made it possible
for us to go to Nationals,without them our season would be over.
Hopefully we can do better next year and have some of the things
we are doing without this year. And that will make it all that more
interesting and exciting.

[Sakura141]

Me and my team always think very highly of rookies ^.^ Last year we even won the WMR with a rookie team and this year I feel very happy to have been paired with 1677 in the finals of WMR. The rookies that I have seen and met are truly an inspiration to me. At every regional my team attended this year, there have been a bunch of really good rookies. :)

[slickguy2007]

1511..... is just amazing. They would rise to the top at every regional and lead their alliances to victory after victory, congratulations guys and good luck in Atlanta. (btw congratulations in ohio, we were nervous about going up against you guys in semifinals. thanks for some great matches!)

1676... is a very gracious team that is extremely well organized in every way. They are the kind of team that would rather help their up coming opponents with a problem than work on their own robot(they did this at nj). If you didn't know this team's number you wouldn't know they are rookies. They were tough competitors and an inspiration to everyone. Congratulations guys and best of luck in Atlanta.

I thought that last year's rookies were awesome competitors, but this year the rookies are coming out as powerhouse teams. I can't imagine how next year's rookies will raise the bar, but I am sure they'll find a way to do it ;) . I fear the rookies!!!! :ahh:

GO 1403!!!

[coldfusion1279]

Personally I am impressed with all of the rookie teams. I have seen many in the top eight at each regional. One stood out in particular, whether its because they are one of the few Catholic schools around here (like us) or not, Falcon Robotics team 1626 deserves a round of applause. Seeded in the top 8 at the end of NJ in their first year is pretty darn good. Congrats to them.
Mike

[neilsonster]

The rookies I met this year are what made the season so great for myself and my whole team.

At Finger Lakes 1559 stole the show with Highest Rookie Seed and 1511 truly proved themselves, winning the Rookie All Star. 1507 lead our alliance into the finals and nearly won the regional as a rookie alliance captain. And of course, 1547. Where's Waldo brought our team's spirit up to another level and they were right beside us representing Canada the whole way.

At the time I didn't know it, but I was also cheering with people from 1503 and 1680 who had come all the way up to Rochester to see the competition (I recognized them immediately when I saw them in Waterloo though). Then in Waterloo we were lucky enough to choose 1503 to be in an alliance with us and we cheered them on.

772's season was made by the rookies who came to the regionals with us. I cannot imagine even thinking of my senior year without thinking of all of you. Thanks for the great memories guys! I'll see you in a few days!

[Scott Chambliss]

Just wondering, does anyone have a list of the rookie teams that will be at Champ's? Thanks!

[Kims Robot]

Check out this Link (http://www.usfirst.org/frc/map/FMPro?-db=team%20events.fp5&-lay=web&-format=team_list.htm&event=CMP&event%20year=2005&status=registered&-sortfield=team%20id&-max=all&-find)

All of the teams 1503 and higher.

[the_short1]

i have to thank 1511 and 703 for their compliments....

703! Cry Of The Phenix!!! :P . .ehhe i loved the loud noise it made. . it was AWSOME

i would have to say the waldo team 1547 (may not have won, but the team ROCKED and was very 'team' like .cant wait to meet them agaain at nationals!. i think they shoula won the spirit award :D . . always dancing and such. .team 1511 was also very good at cheering as well)// and rolling thunder 1511 (awsome bot and drivers) .. . wow.. i stil am impressed by the ammount that 1511 achived as a rookie team. . .. it will be VERY hard fight for the rookie all-star award .. wont it ? :P :?

both VERY memorable rookies.. they will always be rememberd.. .. and 1680 our alliance partner was also a good bot and it was awsome how they collaborated with 2 other teams and shared resources. . congrats..


at GLR.. idont really remember many rookies.. so it seems . we were surrounded by pros like 66 and 67 which are our sisters/brothers . .as they are both GM bots and 66 is our twin :D . .

[Meyerman]

1626 was a good rookie team at the new jersey regional their was a couple others that were good i just dont remember their numbers right now sorry guys!