[WynS]

I'd like to offer my congratulations to the winning alliance. It was amazing to see the teams that we played with and against at the Sacramento Regional do so well.

I especially want to congratulate team 1671. I have an especially warm spot in my heart for them not only because they picked us to be their alliance partners at the Sacramento Regional but because I can relate to their experience.

In 2009, we went to the Championship Event after winning SVR as the #1 seed but had a tough first day in Atlanta. We got our robot working on Saturday but by that time teams were done scouting. As the 15th pick was made, we were resigned to going home without having made the elimination round. Then, 67 and 111 picked us and the rest is history - our alliance went on to be undefeated all the way through Einstein.

I remember how much it meant to us, a small struggling team in those days, when Paul Copioli, the coach for the opposing alliance in the finals on Einstein, came up to our team when we had won and told us that we made all the difference in that alliance. I want to say the same thing to 1671, you took that alliance from being a good alliance to being a great alliance. You also had a tough start in St. Louis but recovered and somehow got overlooked by the other alliances. You deserved to be a first pick or even an alliance captain.

I loved watching your robot in action putting up stack after stack. When the score was close, you could always be counted on to put up your share. That kind of consistent contribution makes all the difference. We have always enjoyed working with your team members and getting to know you better over the years at the Sacramento Regional and the MadTown Throwdown.

Congratulations!