The Best of UTC
 

Hey everyone, Its about 5:20pm on Saturday, March 12 and I just returned home from the UTC Regional Competition in Hartford, Connecticut. Each year that I participate in FIRST the game is intense and the team spirit is through the roof! One of the best experiences I have had in the past years has been with team 195; The Cyber Knights from Southington, Connecticut. Usually I just help them out with scouting and produce a CD with all the Robots attending the competition but this year, I actually switched between volunteering and scouting.

It was actually my first time on stage and seeing what it is was like from the other side of the fence. That had to be the best of what I have seen in my entire FIRST Robotics career.

Second was of course being with Team 195. I don't know if anyone saw us, but we were the ones that started to congo line. I have never led a congo line before but I think most of you may have seen my dancing wildly in the isles or up the stairs.

Anywho, what are some of your best experiences from the 2005 UTC Competition? There's got to be at least something. I cannot wait for next year. I wish I were going to New Jersey next weekend and I really wish I was able to make it to Atlanta for the national competition but duty calls. Thanks yall for making it another great FIRST Robotics experience.

Re: The Best of UTC
 

My best experience had to be getting the highest score at the competition of 96 points. Thanks to 236 and 228 for making it possible!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

Yeah that was an awesome match. It was even more amazing being able to witness that scoring feat by being up on stage. Good work 195!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

It was really exciting when our robot drove towards the vision tetras after I figured out what was wrong with the camera, but that was right before we got so stuck in a tetra after flipping that we had to take the tetra apart to get it off...

Is it me, or was the music sweet all weekend long? There were no obnoxious country songs and it was non-stop sweetness.

Re: The Best of UTC
 

Right you are Greg, the music was mint. Also the fast beat techno during the finals was perfect....

Re: The Best of UTC
 

Team 1071 takeing 2-3 tetra's off of team 230 in the finals. That was a crazy finals with the defense of 1071, and team 69 and 126 getting the job done on offense, that was probably the most exiciting last match of a final that anybody could ask for.

Team 20, 173, 230, awsome teams on the runner up alliance, we couldn't ask for a better alliance to face in the finals.

Congrats team 236 on the chairman's award.

Thanks team 69 and 126 for makeing a great alliance, hopefully we'll be put together in nationals or invitationals.

Re: The Best of UTC
 

I thought it was the play of the day. You guys had the perfect robot for that maneuver against that type of triple stack robot (Gael Hawks).

Great job to MAX. It was also a pleasure to again team up with Team 69, H.Y.P.E.R. (2001) for the UTC Championship!!

BTW, does anyone know if there has ever been another back-to-back weekend champions?

Re: The Best of UTC
 

We were able to do this to 230 a couple times during the scrimmage as well. In fact, when I saw that orange bar they added to the front I figured it was to counter exactly what we had been doing. I think it worked pretty good too.

Re: The Best of UTC
 

OH man, our camera broke!!!! We have to get it up and running to get that middle goal!

See you at SC!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

We did it two years ago, the same thing you guys did, BAE and UTC. It's just amazing. We were cheering for you guys to do the same. Congratulations.

The Best of UTC
 

I would also like to say that that was an amazing match! If you missed the match, the red alliance (228, 236, 195) had dominated the field, owning 8 of the 9 goals, and getting 6 rows, and having at least two tetras on every goal. All three robots were solid that match at scoring. I'd like to thank 236 and 195 for making that a reality. Also, that was the second time that 228 set the record high score at UTC (The previous was 87 pts.) I'll try to have the video of that match up on our website soon for everyone to see!
Also, RAGE had a good alliance in the elimination rounds, beating ours in the semifinals. Congrats to 126, 69, and our sister team 1071 Max. That was a great play by Max by taking the tetras off 230's bot. I also have the video of that and will have it up on the Gus site soon. And I also like to congradulate our alliance partner 236 Techno Ticks for winning the Chairman's Award. UTC was a great competition, and to everyone: a job well done!

<edit> See this link for a screenshot of the webcast with our 96 points. </edit>

Re: The Best of UTC
 

My best experience was meeting the four rookie teams - you guys were AWESOME! Congratulations on making it through your first FIRST regional competition!

I also enjoyed speaking with all the NEM's and FIRST Senior Mentors Brad Lauer and Steve Cremer.

And to all the teams who made the last three days so much fun, THANK YOU!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

I want to put it out there now, and let him do what he wants, but Andy Grady did a great job on stage...even if he did lie about being a HUGE, HUGE Hanson fan!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

I'll second that, and Joel, well, I heard you speak more this past few days than in the years I knew you on RAGE! Great job with all the announcing!

Re: The Best of UTC
 

That was an amazing regional this weekend guys. Especially the finals. HOLLY COW!! There were some really intense matches going on. So many counters happening I was going insane trying to watch them all! Congratulations to the winning alliance and all teams. It was a thriller.