[Waynep]

On behalf of 395, we would like to thank Team 375 and Team 1230 for being our alliance partners and working so well together. We could not have done it without either of you. Special Congratulations to 1230 for qualifying for Nationals for the 1st Time and now going down to ATL with us!

38, 555, 1660. We're sorry about the problems you faced during elims. We could not be more honored to play an alliance in the finals that never stopped trying even when things looked grim. Your alliance fought hard, had all 3 robots been 100% I'm not sure the outcome would have been the same. Especially given 38's capping ability unchecked (one of the coolest tetra grippers, loading and delivery methods, my favorite design by far), 555's unique strategy and ability to rapidly deliver tetras under the goal, and 1660 for being one of the most impressive and effective rookie teams at the regional. So congratulations to you for being Regional Finalists

We'd also like to Congratulate Team 694 for their Chairman's and Woodie Flowers Award win.

There were a lot of gracious teams at NYC which we had the pleasure of working/assisting. As a mentor, seeing how excited, appreciative, and inspired all of the students were could not have made me happier. Working with other teams to try and help them run their best, and in turn seeing what they got out of it is more special than winning the Regional. I must have gotten a thousand hugs and smiles between the various members of Team 1230, the Lionics from the time we picked them to the end. Seeing how grateful we were affirmed that no matter how elims went we had made the right decision in our alliance selection. I know that some of you may view this as easy for me to say with our accomplishments, but I want to remind you all that winning on the field isn't everything. Battles are won everyday with the self-confidence you gain, repsect for your teammates as well as science and technology, knowledge and experience that you gain, working with mentors and other professionals, having fun etc. Please do not lose sight of this, continue to work hard to spread the message of FIRST in the community, get more students involved and other things will come. When you focus on being a gracious professional, you're winners and the winnings will come.

Winning at all costs especially at the expense of your opponents is not in the spirit of FIRST. All of the teams have worked hard to put a robot on the field and compete with it there is absolutely NO REASON to try and pound other robots into submission. There is no need for unnecessary roughness, ramming, pinning, stuffing robots into goals, tipping other robots, not to mention risking taking penalties for your alliance ro getting disqualified. Kamikazes were not cool in World War II, nor are they in FIRST. I have not nor ever will run an "Aggressive Defensive Strategy" with an alliance of mine and I hope you will consider making sure that your team doesn't either. FIRST is about bringing out the best in everyone involved, let the teams play at their best, and you play at your best against them and see how you actually measure up against one another. Earn the respect of other teams for being a gracious team that puts out a good robot that plays with a solid clean strategy.

I want to personally thank all the students, volunteers, and other team members that introduced themselves to me who now know me by name and I got to meet and work with over the weekend. Team 395 had a great time competing with every one of the teams competing in New York. We hope to see you at Nationals or next year back in the big apple.

Best,
Wayne