Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

862 has alway been pretty close to 470 and 815, More so in the past though. We've gone to demos run by 470 for years, Ypsi Fest is always a blast.

We always stress having FUN at competitions regaurdless of results on the field, we're 0-14-0 at the Championships the last two years, team had a blast both times.

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

I noticed the same thing Beth was talking about at the Championships. It was not that way at VCU. When the elems were going on everyone was cheering for someone. We are still new to FIRST, but getting older :)
We are frends with 1610, 1095, 343 and also have several teams we have worked with that are great. We had a chance to play with Pink ( 233 ) at the championships and that was great. Our students are learning a great deal from being around older teams. One thing we do is try to help out when we can. We carry alot of stuff to the competitions and are always willing to give others what they need if we have it. I think the word is getting out, because we had not been in out pits in ATL long before others teams started comming for parts -- it makes us happy to help. I would say all teams are our friends -- we love FIRST !!

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

Let me just say that 1251 is friends with many of our older and younger Florida teams and teams out of Florida. We try to keep in contact with all our old allience partners from out of town too such as 11,25,247,301,845 and 1270. We owe a lot to the older Florida teams espeically 179 and 180 for always inviting us to there preseason scrimmage. Just recently 86 presented us with a beautiful poster commeorating our 07 Florida regional win and 1270 made it to Einstein so we went down to hang out with them in the good seats. We try to meet and help out all the rookies in our area, this year we helped out a second year team by providing them with some gearboxes and FIRST engineering backround. Finally, we are supporters of 25 RINOS program since 2005.

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

Our old rivals are all friends now. Here is a list of some of the teams we have close connections to and have cheered for over the years: 173, 175, 177, 178, 181, 195, 229, 236, 571, 716, 809, 839, 1124, 1511

We also met some great teams this year: 25, 180, 1114, 1305
And some amazing rookie teams: 1991, 2054, 2056, 2064, 2104, 2166
And of course 2067 The Apple Pi's, with whom we shared our return flight adventure!

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

Team #558 has made quite a few connections over the past two years. First there's 358, the Happauge Eagles, who shared their scouting program with us and even helped us figure out how to run it after we were their alliance partners in the finals of the 2006 UTC regional. And of course 181, Birds Of Prey, who were our other alliance partners that year and rooted for us this year as we won that same regional. Our neigbors in the pit area that year, 695 from Stuvysent (sp?) h.s. shared their awesome fundraising packet with us this year. Can't say enough about 195, who chose us for that winning alliance and then helped us get to the nationals by shipping all our gear down. They are also giving us some great fundraising ideas. Then there's the Avon Uberbots, 1124, who posted some very nice compliments about our bot this year on this forum. And, finally, Apple Pi, our close neighbor in Guilford. It was great seeing you guys play so strong at nationals. We were cheering for you all the way. As our team grows and develops, hopefully we'll be able to spread the wealth by sharing our knowledge with other teams as well. That's what FIRST is really all about.

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

At WMR, 2054 won the Rookie All Star Award, but they were not planning on going the championships. One of our mentors went over to their team and asked if they would like to share our bus and hotel with us and they agreed. Both of our teams had a tremedous amount of fun on the bus ride down, the hotel and at the competion. Afterword, we traded email adresses with each other to be able to keep in contact and are also planning to do some workshop type activities over the summer together.

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

I suppose that if 1618 had any formal "friend" teams, it'd have to be 1293. While I'm not officially a 1293er these days, I tend to keep in touch (to the point that my user title on their message board is "The 1618er who never quite left"). Judging by the Billfred chants some of the older kids keep doing, I guess they don't totally hate my guts out. Additionally, we've swapped parts and ideas over the course of the season. Our network grew a little bit when we drafted 1102 and 801 at Palmetto; though the teams might not have interacted too much on Saturday afternoon due to the hectic schedule, I hope at least the drivers had a chance to interact a bit more.

Personally, however, my list of friend teams is a little bit longer. If I've got friends on a team, odds are that I root for them (matches where my team faces theirs notwithstanding, but you know how that goes).

(Oh, and to put a spin on cheering for other teams, try cheering for teams that aren't even at the regional. Barry Bonzack and I did it Saturday at Palmetto, aiming for the Florida teams with chants we remembered (SPAM, ComBBAT, Exploding Bacon, etc.), and it was pretty fun.)

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

*ears perk up* Billfred chants?

I'll have to remember that.

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

My "alum team" has tried hard to establish relations with area teams. Since leaving them I have discovered lots of FVC teams, and of course, there's all my NEMO connections - like Jenny says, "they're all my teams" - where else but FIRST would you be able to meet people from all locations and walks of life? One of these years I'm going to come through with my promise to organize a summer mentor retreat so we can all become friends, no robot/competition/chaperoning duties involved! :)

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

I would so take a bullet for anyone on team 469! MY HOMIES!!! And a shout out to my brothers in Staten Island (team 522) you guys rock!

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

SPAM's sister team is 179 (SwampThing)... located about 40 minutes south of us, and we share sponsorships with 1523 (MARS) and 1842 (Twisted EGO.) A few SPAM alumni went off to UCF and helped start teams up there, including 1902 (Exploding Bacon.) Sadly, we lost our coolest mentor to a new team this year 1889 (HAZE)...but that just gives us another friend. And of course....... each year we make new friends with our alliance partners, like 79 (Krunch) and 233 (PinK)!

The finals this year at the championship kept SPAM standing nearly the entire time. Florida teams stick together. Oink, Oink, Think-Pink, SwampThing!:D

...and we can't forget our summer Mayhem buddies, down south...like 1251 and 108 (nothing better than switching our number signs during each other's matches)

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

Yeah.. Thunderillas forever :D A lot of people from 217/469/1114 are good friends with each other. We're also pretty good friends with 27, team Rush. Nothing will ever beat the sweet danceoff at the wrap party =D

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

One of these years I'm going to come through with my promise to organize a summer mentor retreat so we can all become friends, no robot/competition/chaperoning duties involved! :)[/quote]

I know a great beach resort that would be a fine place for a mentor retreat!!!!!

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

our team is still pretty shy with the whole meeting other teams and becoming friends with them, so as a team we don't seem to have any other teams to talk to lol as "friends". I myself made friends with team 854, 1535, and 781 this year, and now that the rest of the team has taken notice of the GP around during regionals, (although our number isn't a rookie number, only two of us weren't rookies, the teacher involved was even a rookie :D) my team seems now to show an interest in getting to know people and getting involved in the community a bit more. Unfournatly for us, we are the only team in our region. lol. Guess that means we are starting up some teams lol :P wish us luck!! and you can expect us to be much more social next year!!

Re: Friend Teams-- The Sweet Challenge
 

Friends,
Over the past 12 years Team 47 has had the honor of getting to be friends with many teams – really, far too many to list without forgetting some.
Here are few examples of Friendships that without FIRST wouldn’t have happened.

Once upon a time there were 2 very competitive High Schools from the same city. To say that they disliked each other was an understatement, with years & years of bad blood authoring their history. Pontiac Central (47) vs.Pontiac Northern (65)
I’m sure many can relate to this kind of cross town rivalry.
FIRST teams from both schools have bridged this divide, with mutual respect – and are often seen cheering each other on. FIRST has proven to be the common bond pulling teams together instead of pushing them apart. A great moment indeed, when Ken Patton and the team aligned together with us to win a regional – a few year back. Go Huskies!

This year our team saved money by sharing a bus and hotel at Atlanta with Team 33 Killer Bees. I’m sure there was a little apprehension amongst the students at first, as neither had ever really “gotten to know” each other – The mentors and coaches had many years of experiences together while competing in FIRST and OCCRA.
I wasn’t able to ride the bus with them, but I was told that at the end of the trip the students had bonded well enough together that goodbye “hugs” were not uncommon.
Team 47 loves the Killer Bees, Jim Zontag, Chet, Jerry, and all of the rest.

12 years ago, Team 47 was mentored by one of the original FIRST teams from Kokomo, Indiana. Even though we were literally hundreds of miles apart, the Techno-Kats showed the Chiefs – how to do this the right way, and they’ll always be our role models. Andy Baker, Mark Koers, and all the others - Friends forever.

Throughout years some of the most fun we have had has been competing with and against “our friends” from great teams – 111 Wildstang (we think we love you) and 71 Beatty/Hammond (you guys never cease to amaze us), 27 Team Rush (proud to be pit neighbors throughout the past 12 years). Bill and Brian Beatty, the Nobles, Raul, Dan Green, Al, Denny, Kyle, Anthony, Jimmy – good times and good friends.

On a personal note – a long time ago on a very snowy night Team 88 TJ2 helped us find our way to Manchester for a Kickoff. Moe socks and good times ever since! You guys are “wicked” good friends and always will be.

Mike Aubry
Chief Delphi