Wow, this was one amazing weekend plain and simple. In my 8 years this definitely is right near the top of my list of great memories in FIRST, I simply don't know how I could thank all the teams and people that made it such a great event both for 1902 as well as myself but let me give it a shot.
Sabrina and Dez, you made a great team especially in the face of numerous field problems. You both worked very professionally and passionately to try to ensure the amount field problems effected teams was at it's minimal for all of the problems that were thrown your way.
Jessica and Andy Boucher, the two people that inspired me the most initially to get up there and I'm grateful that they did. Andy is an amazingly talented announcer and Jessica and her volunteers reminded me of my crew in Florida (something that I don't think I've seen before). You guys made the regional look like a cakewalk, and I know how tough it can be... it just ran so smooth even in the face of numerous "God"-struck mini-crisis.
Mike Sperber - I'm glad we had the chance to meet this weekend. I watched you running around left and right putting on and taking off numerous hats, it was clear you understood the volunteers, event management side, media handling, and the teams. I could directly see the contributions you, Kathie, and your committee put into this event. Such a fantastic job, one regional committee member to another. Be proud of your work.
Jack Kentfield - If I hadn't known you were a first time MC there's no way I would have known. I see great things in your future.
Megan and Ashley from Showready - Megan was with us in Florida and did a fantastic job and she definitely brought her A-game to Connecticut again as well. Even with the large amount of media attention and VIPs in the building the timelines were excellent!
All of the volunteers did such a great job, it was very smooth and with things like the wide pit rows it was wonderful to have minimized traffic congestion in the back. I can imagine the troubles with getting the stands into the convention center financially and logistically and although things were packed in eliminations it was still amazing for the setup.
228 - Each one of you contributed something to 1902, thank you for Wednesday's dinner and for essentially "blending" with 1902 to form one large team for the entire event. I loved the time we had with all of you and look forward to it in the future.
1592 - Although you do not live far from us in Florida, this was the first time I really had a chance to talk with many of you. I'm really glad that finally happened and I see a very bright future between 1592 and 1902, we really loved hanging out with you up there.
126 and 1155 - What an alliance. Wow. I mean, simply, wow. I've sat in many alliance strategy sessions and the way everyone worked as a cohesive unit before ever even putting a robot on the floor together was like watching a well choreographed dance. I'm just glad you let me stick around and work with all of you to help. I am pretty certain this was my favorite time with an alliance for the entire eliminations, and not just because of the win... that was just a nice cherry on top. It was great that on Friday whenever I was on the field taking pictures I would look at the stands and just see all the teams separated in the stands and the little patches of color and then you see 126/228/1902 all just totally blended together in this orange, white, and green chaotic blob. It was amazing getting to work with you throughout the weekend and then with 1155 in the end.
121 - In many respects I think 1902 and 121 are "brothers from another mother." It's always interesting seeing the way your team approaches things since in many ways we mirror each other in terms of the age of our mentors. Between the "great minds think alike's" staggering similarities in last year's robots and this year getting to play each other it was quite nice. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time watching the 1902/121 tango out there in semifinals. Be proud of your accomplishments. Outside of the event I was really glad to get to hang out with many of you Friday evening for a few hours, you guys really do have some amazingly talented mentors and I hope we will see each other again in elimination matches many more times to come in our teams' futures.
There were so many others, I couldn't list them all. Please know that you all put on such a wonderful show. Between 1991's social, paragon's constant cheering us from the second we got there Thursday morning until the end (even when we were against them in eliminations!), and just everything... it really was great.
Taking photos during the eliminations I was amazed the number of times I had to just stop in the middle of match and as I looked around the bleachers just the amazing amount of teams that were cheering for Bacon. Some did our "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" but I heard many others making up cheers as they went and it sent shivers down my spine in such a great way. I wish I could have gone up to every one of you and thanked you after, because it was very very cool. I don't think I've ever heard such a cohesive group cheering for a team and I was absolutely flattered that you all would be doing that for us. As silly as I feel the "We're all winners" phrase can be, I think it really does fit. I'm really glad to see that all the small relationships that built between 1902 and the other teams over the three days was able to culminate in such an awesome finale. It may have been the 3 teams on the field but it really seemed to feel like everyone could enjoy the victory. 1073/61/571, 121/694/173, 1100/175/743.... you all put on an amazing challenge. Every elimination match had me going "Wow!" I am glad that we had the chance to play each and every one of you and look forward to growing relationships with all of your teams as time goes on.
On behalf of 1902 I'd like to say a big "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" in honor of all of you for bringing us into your home and making us feel like 'pigs in a blanket.'
