Thanks
Actually, I think its a testament to our (15 & 1600's) rookie year... In my 10 years in FIRST, I have not seen a stronger set of Rookies. We first realized this at the first Finger Lakes Regional. There were so many amazing rookie robots... generally rookies are discounted, and arent very good, but 90% of the rookie teams were strong, and beating the veterans! I think there were 5 of the rookies in the top 15 teams.
I'll be honest, I think the mentoring, and the kids who graduated from HS FIRST are starting to come out, older teams are helping start regionals and FIRST teams, and the effort has skyrocketed. Rookies now "get" FIRST after only the first year.
That drove our rookie class to work harder, be bigger, be better. Our team even came up with the slogan "the new breed" Its a breed of rookie teams that are surpassing many veteran teams (not that we dont love our roots!!) in what they can accomplish. There is all the new creativity, and a new-found drive to do more, and there are no limits, there is no one saying "this is how we do it" or "we've always done it that way."
So I just wanted to thank you for this thread... I think the sophomore slump may have been kicked for the 2005 Rookies!