[Arefin Bari]

I have been following this thread for a few days and every single night I sit down to reply to this thread and I just can't find the right words. First of all, congrats on a very deserving championship gold.

Team 1114 - There are so many teams out there but you are the one team I have looked up to for the past two years. Your team is one of the most well organized team. Most of all, you guys aren't selfish about sharing information about your team. You guided team 1345 to the right path with designs for past two years (It was really good to hear that you guys finally won chairmans at waterloo). I only wish I had the chance to be part of your team.

Team 217 - You guys are an amazing team. You know the true meaning of FIRST and you always welcome others in your pit. I have had the pleasure of speaking to quite a few members from your team and you guys exemplify a team everyone can look up to. Paul, thank you for sharing all the designs/pictures of your previous bots. I have learned a lot from you.

Team 148 - The creativity and the amount of work you guys put into your team is unbelievable. Tumbleweed is by far one of the most creative robots I have seen this season. You guys have proved me wrong because in the beginning of the season, I told my own team that a lapbot is a bad idea. By the way, if any student member of the team is reading this post, find time to steal John away for few hours and have him teach you techniques on how to design gearboxes/chassis/FIRST robot in general. He is one of my guru.

1114, 217, and 148; all 3 of you deserved to win the championship this season. Congratulations. When I first heard that you guys were on the same alliance, I couldn't believe it until I saw you guys out there on the field. It was a dream alliance. I will be thankful if I ever have the pleasure to be behind the glass with any of you three teams, even if it's for just one match.

Thank you for everything you guys do for FIRST and for inspiring the next generation of FIRST.