[Thuvishan.R]

To be my first year coaching in FRC and 9 years into the program, it still hasn't registered. Everything feels too surreal….

Ever since our inception, Team 1241 has dreamed of winning the championships. In 2004, our rookie year, we felt like we had the robot and alliance to take it all the way home, but in a mere few matches, it was all gone due to lack of experience and great game play by the teams we were facing against. We re-evaluated our approach and tried to learn from our experiences. Then in 2011, we once again with a little bit of luck thought we had the alliance and robot to go all the way. Then the unthinkable happened. After the 2011 season, I personally was heartbroken, angry and disappointed at myself in the events that transpired.

After the 2011 season we had a lot of ups, downs and a LOT of luck that got us to the semi-finals in our division. I began to wonder, how many more chances would we really have, or how long would we have to wait to have our chance at a showing on Einstein? This year with bill 115 passing, we did not have the ability to use any of our schools facilities. With the help from our lead teachers and First Canada, we were able to secure Sheridan College as our main source of work-space for our build season. Also, luckily with the help of our municipality, they provided us with a work-space to be used as a practice facility. With all this being said, never before have I neither seen nor been a part of a team who was so driven towards success despite all the negative actions which transpired all around. We constantly discussed areas for improvement throughout the competition season with the ultimate goal of taking worlds as our main objective. Every team member was inspired and driven towards the goal.

From our administrative mentors to our external mentors, communication was often an issue due to the fact that our central facility and our second Home (Rick Hansen Secondary School) had been taken away from us. This only served to make us that much harder to prove our self-worth. To a certain degree, we took many inspirational teams, such as 1114, 2056, 67, 254, 987, 33 and 469 to name a few, to push us to work harder and try to reach our goals. We took criticism and turned that into drive and motivation to fix what we needed to, in order to provide us with consistent results and performance which would translate to success on the field.

Team 1241 did not necessarily have an amazing regional season when competing against many top teams which are underrated throughout the world, as we were a regional finalist at won Engineering Inspiration at the Greater Toronto Regional East. Despite all the negativity, we focused on execution. The saying goes, “luck favours those who are prepared”. Every team member performed at the highest level this weekend, constantly pushing each other to grow. We were not about to let this opportunity slip through our hands despite not seeding first and being in one of the deepest divisions that we’ve seen in a while.

The feelings that we felt this weekend are too overwhelming to even be described. Assembling the underdog alliance of 1477 and 610… Earning our first trip to Einstein by winning arguably the toughest division this year… Then finally finishing our Ultimate Ascent and winning our first championship.

This feeling is truly indescribable. You dream of something for so long that to a certain degree it seems unattainable, especially when you think of all the skill and ability that many teams around the world bring to the competition year in and year out. Anyone who knows me or Theory 6 knows how badly we wanted this. There's nothing quite like this.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible. There's so many of you.


Team 1477 Texas Torque - We wanted a team who had the flexibility to be a cycler, have a 7-disk autonomous capability and have the ability to be a strong defender. I am in dismay at how it required a last minute fourth and final regional just to qualify for Champs. The Texans had some jamming issues throughout the weekend, but never gave up. I've said it time and time again. 1477 was the glue that held our alliance together. You guys were amazing to work with and anything we asked you guys to do, you guys did it to the best of your abilities and that's all we could have asked for. The way you guys compose yourselves as a team is quite inspirational and it was a long time coming for you guys, congrats!


Team 610 The Coyotes - We've wanted to work with you for years. There is no better performer than the Coyotes. This team just knows how to win. No matter what adversity is thrown their way, they always find a way to pull through. The fact that you guys even fell to us as a 2nd round pick we knew was our good fortune. We were not about to pass that kind of opportunity up and I’m so happy we didn’t. Thank you Mr. Lim for your kind words, as I mentioned prior to alliance selections. I was inspired by you at FLR 2009 when we had the chance to work with you in one of our matches. I loved the way you composed yourself, as well as the rest of your team throughout the entire tournament. It was a pleasure and honour working alongside you.

The Canadian Teams in Attendance - It was great seeing all those Canadian flags waving in support of us during the Einstein matches. It was a true honor to represent our country. There are too many people to thank and name. It brings me joy to think of everyone who provided their support and the kind words our team received throughout the competition. In addition to all our Canadian friends, a thanks to all the teams in the GALIL-LEO division! The chants were electrifying and we could hear your support on the field, even over all the other commotion that was present.

A couple personal ones:

Mr. Hobbins – I have known you ever since I was 12, you have helped shape me into the man I am today. I'm grateful towards you for so much. Your continued support and valuable advice is a direct correlation on the man whom you see before you.

Mark Breadner – words cannot describe how you have helped us throughout the years. You have given us opportunities and are the driving force behind FIRST Robotics in Canada. You have always come out and encouraged us after every small win, pushing us, always asking if we need help, and talking about our vision for FIRST. I personally want to thank you for all your support and welcoming personality.

Mr. Lim, Mr. Rip, Parth P., Kajeevan A., Sharven M., Pranit T. and Nick L., just to name a few - Winning the championship was everything I could have ever dreamed it to be and more, but part of what made it special was to win it with friends and quite frankly now family. You guys are awesome, and there's no one else I'd rather share this title with than the friends I’ve grown up with and learned to love.

To all the THEORY6 members - You guys kept me going for the past 9 years. I've been through some ups and downs in my life, but you've been the one consistent factor. No matter what else is going on, I can always count on the THEORY members to inspire me and motivate me. The bonds on this team are so much more than that of just being simple teammates. You are truly my family and my best friends. I look up to each and every one of you in different ways. You help define the standards and morals that I live my life by. There's really no other group that consistently makes me smile and laugh the way you do. This journey has been amazing, and I look forward to seeing where it takes us next.

After all said and done, it was dreams come true for all of us. And who better to celebrate and share it with than friends and family. The motto for the alliance goes, "Without one, there is none".
#HowdEhTeam
#ThreeCyclersForever
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