[Chris is me]

If I listed every positive interaction I've had with a dominant team this would be my longest post on Chief Delphi - and I have made way too many long posts. I'll mention a few highlights here - if I left you out, I'm sorry.

1114 - Only positive experiences. A tour of their school in 2010 as well as email correspondence taught me a lot about how a successful FRC program can grow out of a high school. These experiences helped shape what 2791 is today.

In 2010, I went to Atlanta, but then realized I had no idea how to navigate the subway system. Luckily I was on the same train as many 1114 students and parents. They help point me in the right direction to the dome and hotel.

But wait, there's more! At the 2010 IRI, one of the (now former) 2791 mentors volunteered at the event. I talked to him about my positive experiences with 1114 and he didn't quite believe it. I think he had some small grudge against them for some minor interaction years ago; I honestly can't remember. What I do remember is that he then went and had a conversation with some of their parents and mentors about competing in Canada. An hour later, I find him and he looks super excited. He's telling me that we've got to compete in both Waterloo and GTR next year, since Canadian teams like 1114 are so nice. I still wish we ended up doing that!

20 - More of a local powerhouse than a global powerhouse, but 20 has been nothing but incredibly kind to 2791. In the 2010 season, we basically built half our robot in their shop the weekend before ship. At our first regional, they helped us debug part after part, and when our scouting fell apart they gave us their data no questions asked. We used that data from the 5th AC spot to make two good picks - both to the detriment of 20. Excellent gracious professionalism.

The GP has only continued since then. We share a practice field along with the other Albany region teams. Whenever we've needed help with software or finding a random part, members of team 20 are always ready and willing to jump in and help us. In 2013, as 20 switched to a west coast drive, there was open design discussion between the teams to better both our robots. All of this gracious professionalism and collaboration peaked at the 2013 WPI Regional. We scouted the event together, and 2791 ended up as the #1 seed, selecting 20 as the first pick overall. We got within literal inches of our first regional win, and it's all thanks to Shaker's sports rivals down the road in Clifton Park.

I could go on forever talking about how 118, 2168, 176, 229/4124, 610, 177, and 1519 have all been excellent and friendly competitors, but this post would get far too long. Unfortunately we will probably never compete with a lot of them again due to districts.