[Eric O]

I know I am a little late, but that's what happens when you leave work for 4 days and deadlines don't move.

I want to thank both 1507 and 121 for inviting us to work with them and make another Einstein run. As our MC said during the eliminations "It only takes 6 wins to get to Einstein". Thanks to the rest of the tough competitors as those were 6 tough wins.

1507- Thank you for going out on a limb and picking us. You guys had a great machine which snuck in those 7 balls at the end of each match to put us over the edge. You guys played some great defense and had amazing empty cell autonomous capabilities. As someone who watched most of the qual matches, you guys had a solid machine which peaked exactly where you needed it to, in the Eliminations round.

121 - Thanks for believing in us. You guys are great! Your machine was outstanding from the first match I saw it in at BAE. After Hartford all of us on 177 had our $$ on you going to Einstein this year. Once we saw you were in our division, we though, well this is easy, all we have to do is convince them to pick us. As simple as it was you guys never stopped improving that robot and it paid off. I would say you were one of the Top 3 un-defendable robots this year. I hope we get to pair up in the future some time.

I want to thank the kids on 177 for a great year. This was one of the least stressful and most fun seasons, and it was because all of you were so good at what you did and had fun doing it.

I also want to thank Jesse (from 177). For those of you that don't know Jesse,...well you should. Of all the people I have met that "know strategy", or are "strategy kings"...most of them have nothing on Jesse. He would never proclaim this, so I am going to for him. His ability and patience to get an alliance on the same page of a match winning stragety is second only to his ability to work with kids in the shop and doing driver training. Jesse, you took this great year to outstanding, and the rest of us on the Bobcats thank you for that.

Last, but not least, I want to congratulate this year's champions 111, 67, and 971. You have amazing robots and amazing teams.

-Eric