Going back to Jersey..

[rees2001]

How the time has passed. 4 years ago we were just getting ready to compete at our first regional. The J&J Mid-Atlantic. I can remember walking into that old gym not knowing what to think. That first day I walked around & looked at all of the other teams, The 360 drive of Chief Delphi – wow, the Crane (soon to be national champs) – wow, the grasshopper, TJ2 I could go on all day. How was our little rag-tag robot built by a buch of kids, thier parents, & a few mentors going to compete with these wonders of science & technology?

I had no Idea what we were in for, the power the excitement, the thrill. We competed well & Friday night got awarded the Rookie All-Star award, cool. Saturday was a blur, a couple of matches & then the picking process. I stood on the side of the field just wondering if we were good enough to get picked. Then I noticed this one kid on stage checking his sheet? Looking at his coach who is standing right next to me, “Who do I pick?” the kid asked. I looked at the coach & told him all about our bot. Then… Team 303 would like to pick team 340. Wow, we are going to the playoffs. We win the first round, we beat Chief Delphi. We’re going to the finals, cool. We eventually lost to BMS & the Crane but wow, that was fun. Then to top it all off , we get a cool trophy & medals. I had no Idea…
Many friends, medals, & trophies later I still love this thing.


Thanks FIRST

I'd love to hear your story

p.s. Thanks Chris & congrats on the little one.

[evulish]

I do believe 'the Crane' was team 25...who, as always, has a competitive bot

Can't wait till Rutgers...can't wait till Rutgers...*rocks back and forth*

[Keith Chester]

The Crane is what the crowd in nationals called the Cradle Robber.
And yes, it was us.
Looking forward to Thursday!

[Mike Schroeder]

Originally posted by Replic
The Crane is what the crowd in nationals called the Cradle Robber.
And yes, it was us.
Looking forward to Thursday!

acctually i was there when the guy said it, he acctually said (and brandon might yell at me for this)
That Son of a umm Witch Baby Snatcher, i just g-rated it for FIRST

[Wayne C.]

Welcome back to Jersey-

This year will be a special year at the J&J Regional in a new venue with a lot of new vitality. I can tell you that this WILL be the regional to be at. Most of the teams are veterans, about 1/3 have been to other regionals and have the bugs worked out, and about 1/4 of them played in the elimination rounds.

Then there are all those dark horses we don't know about yet.

Team 25 has been going to Rutgers since 1997. Back then the referees would follow us out with a fire extinguisher in case we caught fire again. Our wheels often decided to play the game alone on the field. A radio controlled vacuum cleaner Placebo played some rounds- and won!!

The NJ Regional has come a long way. Be sure to thank the guys at J&J for all the years of support, hard work and planning.

WC

[Wayne C.]

Originally posted by rees2001
How the time has passed. . Then… Team 303 would like to pick team 340. Wow, we are going to the playoffs. We win the first round, we beat Chief Delphi. We’re going to the finals, cool. We eventually lost to BMS & the Crane but wow, that was fun. Then to top it all off , we get a cool trophy & medals. I had no Idea…
Many friends, medals, & trophies later I still love this thing.

I still remember that 303 /340 team badgering the Delphi monster like dogs on game. It was a thing of wonder. Boy did those guys seem teed off. Paul K. and I still talk about it.

Today 303 and 25 are good friends. We have had dinners together, played with and against each other and our kids keep in touch. 303 builds powerful robots that are formidable and they sometimes trounce us, sometimes we trounce them. Together as partners we are great allies. We are heading for Houston together and staying in the same hotel. And together our two teams put on the Brunswick Eruption last fall. It would be great if all the FIRST teams could get along like we do.

In my mind THAT's what FIRST is about. Lots of the NJ teams are like that. And we welcome new friends. You can never have too many.

WC

[Keith Chester]

340, of course, is always welcomed to work with us towards a growing first

[rees2001]

I have 1 question for 303... what happened to Vulgens' Heroes? I still have the button...Go Commando!! I checked the website & they are some panther robotics team?

& yes Replic, it was you guys @ 25 with the "Cradle Robber", who could miss the Hawaiian shirts? I figured how many former national champs have had a crane looking like bot? You guys look tough this year. You are also right about the talent at Rutgers this year. A lot of veterans & elimination round ready teams. Can’t wait to get there & see the new digs. Leaving tomorrow afternoon. Watch out NJ here comes GRR.

BTW Wayne, Paul K? is that Paul Kane?

[Keith Chester]

Paul Kloberg.
Can't wait to meet ya.

[Pin Man]

I'm so excited to go back to Jersey!!! This is my second year on the team but I use to go see my brother in the competition(he was our old driver). I believe the two years were 1997 and 1998... Those were great times. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

[evulish]

Someone from 25 is going to trade me a shirt, right?

[RobDeCotiis]

...the BMS alliance will win 1st :-D
(yeah.. i'll keep my hopes up.. )

[SarahB]

But which one? There are 5 BMS teams. But there's also a Merck team so we could have an all drug company final. With our all BMS alliance winning of course

[Mike Schroeder]

hmm five bms team, well may the better team win,

[Wayne C.]

Originally posted by evulish
Someone from 25 is going to trade me a shirt, right?

mebbe.....


WC