Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Congratulations to 781 for earning the Chairman's Award. You guys have a strong program. Can't wait to see what comes next!

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Said it a couple weeks ago, and I'll say it again. The elite aren't great because they have great sponsors. They have great sponsors BECAUSE they're great.

There are many teams with big sponsors and budgets significantly larger than 1114/2056 and the rest of the elite, and they don't perform nearly as well, so you never hear about them.

The elite are great because of their great mentors. All of the elites have stellar mentors, and it shows.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Lol thanks, we've got two more regionals to go so don't count us out yet! There is a long list of improvments to hash out over the next week and a bit before Boston. The team is very determined to make this year "Their" year to win.

Unfortunately we don't have any data posted specifically on how it works but I've got a pile of on-board GoPro video which should show the hardware in action. I'll try to get something posted soon. In the mean time, the reveal video one of our members made has some footage of our practice bot climbing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LFh7...ature=youtu.be

Check us out on Facebook for updates. "Cybergnomes Robotics FRC Team 2013"

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

As a driver for team 1325, it was almost surreal walking onto the field and accepting the alliance request from 2056 and 1114. Though we're really passionate, we haven't been very successful in the past. This year, we decided to put everything we had into it, which was made quite difficult by teachers' job action, our limited resources, and the fact that we have an extremely young team. Also, our first day of competition was pretty shaky,and we doubted making any alliances. However, like some of the other users have said previously, you can't whine about not winning a regional because of powerhouse teams. My opinion might seem biased since I was on their alliance, but I honestly believe that our team, as well as many others, look up to teams like 2056 and 1114, and try to emulate their actions.

Last year was my first year in FRC, and I spent a lot of time wondering how top-notch teams like theirs worked so well. After being on an alliance with them, and working with them, I've learned a lot. It's their attention to detail, their mentors, and their passionate students that really lift them up. They have their sponsors because of these qualities. They were calm, polite, and very professional, even though our robot and driving weren't as good as theirs. A lot of the improvement we experienced from last year to this year was because we looked at teams like 2056 and 1114 and tried to have similar qualities. We're not there yet, but they've certainly inspired us to try harder this season.

Something else I noticed during this regional was the increase in the quality of rookie teams. Especially noticeable was 4476, the WAFFLES. I had a hard time convincing people that they were a rookie team. Congrats to 781 for the RCA win! Something interesting during this regional was when 2013 (was it you guys with the 2-speeds? I think it was, correct me if I'm mistaken) tried to push us, and we had a 6-CIM drive train...it was cool to see what would happen. Have you ever tried headbutting anyone with those hats? :P

1241 is another team with a powerful bot, and they also had a pit to match. That pit setup was gorgeous, I'm jealous :P Also, 1075 had these awesome sparkly bumpers....our pit was right beside theirs, and I never grew tired of staring at their bumpers.

Obligatory first post note: This is my first post, so sorry if formatting/etiquette is off.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

First, congrats to 2056, 1114, and 1325; a phenomenal win. Congratulations also to 4343, 1241, and 216 for ignoring the memo about not having a chance & making the winning alliance work for it.

I'm not sure why Atonomous has a problem with the way alliance selections went. I support all teams picking the best robot to complement them & form a strong alliance; otherwise what's the point of competing? There's been a lot said about sponsorships, showing excellence, etc.; I won't repeat any of that.

The only thing I can think of that might be a good reason to pick someone else is to give that team "elite" playing experience. And I totally reject that as an acceptable reason. Teams at regionals the "elite" teams attend get the chance to play on alliances with them during qualifications, and (probably more importantly) get to see them close up both on & off the field. Any team that doesn't take advantage of proximity to other teams ("elite" or otherwise) to learn is shortchanging themselves & has no business blaming anyone but themselves for not doing so. And in no way should they wait for the other teams to initiate the conversation.

We've had the good fortune to be on winning regional alliances with 2 former World Champion teams. In one case they picked us; in the other they were our best pick. I'd hate to think that either picked us (or accepted our selection) just because they wanted to be nice or help give us experience. I know that the alliances formed because they were good for both teams, and that's the way it should have been.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Among all this bickering I'd just like to say this regional had some amazing robots and watching how alliances worked out with different robot strengths was really enlightening and congrats to simbotics and op you inspire as always and to 1325 I can relate to your team

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

4476, and 4718 too. Both had strong robots. If 4476 hadn't chosen 4718, they would have been the 6th alliance captain.

It helps having some strong veteran mentors though, 4476 has a former 610 mentor, and 4718 has at least one former 188 mentor.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

I'm not going to do the popular thing on Chief Delphi and take my pound of flesh out on this guy, so I will just say three things:


1. Why can't this ever be a normal thread? It is the same tired shtick every year. You say who's coming, you loosely catalog the event's happenings, you congratulate the teams, and move on. Instead, it's this all-out verbal war that has been fought on this site so many times it makes me sick.

2. I really want to be on the same field as some of these teams one day. I want to rise up above the rest, because pulling them down is pointless. If I was ever on a team that intentionally sandbagged an event, I couldn't be with them anymore. If I played on a field against teams who were sandbagging it, I wouldn't ever really win that match, would I?

3. If I am jealous of anything, I'm jealous of the quality of the average team that shows up to GTRE/W/Waterloo because 1114 and 2056 have pushed their whole country to step it up. 610 is going to have a battle in Waterloo after they tore up BAE, and I love it. That's what I want. I don't want to win all the time, I want my state to have a killer reputation for robotics instead of a killer reputation for DC Beltway construction, deficient bridges, and bay cleanups.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Don't think it was us as we are running 6 CIM single speed as well.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

To me, it's quite clear what the impact of 1114 and 2056 is in Canada. The competition level was very fierce at GTE. I'm willing to wager that if any of those alliance captains or 1st picks were to come down to the Southeast US (excluding Florida), they would end up being regional winners or finalists. It's like the same with Michigan, because of the level of competition for the blue banner, the whole region is becoming stronger in terms of robot performances and the teams themselves. Part of that HAS to be the effect 1114 and 2056 have on Canada FIRST and all of the resources both teams provide.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Absolutely correct. See: 772 in 2012.

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

On behalf of Team 781, I'd like to thank everyone for your sincere congratulations on our Chairman's Award win. The members of our team that worked on presenting the award worked so hard to get there all season long, and it's quite a feeling to see them (and the rest of the team, of course) become this happy. In place of the nervousness they felt when they were doing it along with the admirable Team 1241--Theory 6--was replaced with tears of joy. This was worth more than our upset last year at Queen City, more than our regional win in Toronto two years ago and even more than our World Finals finish that same year (don't take that as a team opinion, although I'm sure it's echoed by at least most of them).

A huge congratulations to 1114 and 2056 for their 20th and god-knows-how-many regional wins for them, respectively. Both of you are nothing short of amazing to see year after year, what with your stunning robots and inspiration to every FIRST team. 1114 is a Hall of Fame team for extremely good reason, and it wouldn't be surprising if I see another 4-digit team from Stoney Creek join them.

Thanks for another fun regional, and Team 781 will see you in Waterloo (if you'll be there)!

EDIT: And an enormous thank you to the group who made this regional possible, the volunteers. I'm not sure if Karthik was the chair this year like last year, but whatever he did do, he's obviously included in this thanks. Can't wait to see you MC at Waterloo! (James wasn't too bad either!)

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Thank you! Our three teams, 216, 244, and 288, had an incredible weekend up in Canada! We beat all odds being able to compete in the tournament after many of our parts were stolen the night before the tournament, and there was no way that we were going to give up in the finals!

We've had the ability to compete with both Simbotics and OP Robotics for 3 years now, and we are incredibly impressed by their robots every year. In fact, Simbotics was one of the teams that really stepped up and donated computers, drive stations, and tools to our teams!

We are proud of our work, and we can't wait to (hopefully) see everyone up in Canada again next year!

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Thanks Jaxom! We tried. :)

GTR-E was incredibly well run. Match cycles were so efficient, the event was mostly running ahead of time. Great work by all the volunteers and organizers who made this possible. Thank you all.

We would like to congratulate 4343 MaxTech on their incredible show of GP on and off the field. On the field, a simple and efficient robot with fast cycles. This team were excellent alliance captains, very cooperative and open to listen to our picks and match strategies. For a second year team, you get it. See you at GTR-W. 216 More RoboDawgs were also great alliance partners. It was a pleasure to work with one of the Michigan - Grandville teams. Thank you both!

Congratulations to 2056 (#15), 1114 (#20) and 1325 (their first) on the Regional Victory. We hope that we gave you a hard time in the finals :p

Congratulations to 4476 W.A.F.F.L.E.S on their wonderful display of FIRST's values on and off the field. Highest Rookie Seed, Rookie All-Star and a FIRST Dean's Finalist Award. As for their robot, simply outstanding. They chose to be a low goal dumper and defended against veteran teams like champions. I'm incredibly happy for you guys. I also love both their abbreviation and acronym :cool:

Congratulations to 781 on the RCA, very well deserved. We're nothing less than happy for this team, they've gone to many heights to achieve this award. On the field, the schedule was very tough for the Kinetic Knights, facing either 1114 or 2056 in 5 of their qualification matches!

It's only been hours since GTR-E, can't wait till Waterloo and GTR-W! :)

Re: 2013 Greater Toronto East Regional
 

Thanks, Aaron. Yes I was the Regional Chair once again. The regional was an amazing success, made possible by some of the most dedicated and experienced volunteers in FIRST. These people really are the heart of FIRST in Canada; I'm regularly humbled by working along side them.

It was amazing seeing Team 781 win their first Chairman's Award in their team history. For the past 12 seasons, they've been growing and fostering FIRST in their community and beyond. They've gone unrecognized in the past, which must make yesterday's victory seem even more sweet. The reactions of their team once they realized they had won were priceless.

Finally, a special congratulations to James Cerar, the 2013 GTR East Volunteer of the Year. Anyone crazy enough to be a Lead Robot Inspector, Head Referee and FTA in the same season, doing each role in a different province, deserves an award of this stature.