2004 Robot Rodeo

[Code\\Pilot]

Great Job Freedom and Swamp, thanks to Mr. Eric from SPAM for helping me out with the code.

[Tytus Gerrish]

From Me and arefin: We had so much fun arefin lost his voice and so did I I love My team and how they Threw me up in the air and how they love me and stuff. arefin and Barry are honarry memeber's of 179. we had lots of fun afterwards too.Great awesome day thanks to 1402 for being our alliance. now we are realy tired. im typing prety incoherently now i think i want to sleep now.

[Arefin Bari]

and now here i am logged in right after tyty! when he is repeating everything i am typing in here. The 2004 Robot Rodeo was awesome. All the teams had fun. the BEST part was the spirit of all the teams. Congratulation to team 179 and 1402 for winning the rodeo and team 233 and team 945 for being the finalist. another thing i have seen during this event, Every single person was always up to work or help each other with anything. example, everyone helped to take down the field. Thanks to Nathan Pell, Mike Walker, Andrew Rudolph, George Wallace, Peter smeryge (710), Dan Richardson, Ryan Albright, and the crew of 1083 for putting up a great event. even though we were there till 3 o'clock in the morning on saturday working on the field, the work did pay off. Now i can say that the 3 hours of drive was worth it. Also Thanks to Billfred for driving down for 7 hours from South Carolina and join us at the event. The robot rodeo is getting better and better every year. Florida teams showed off their spirit and their gracious professionalism the best way. Thanks for letting me to be a part of the crew and experience great Teamwork. now i am falling asleep too... lata.

[Jimmy Huynh]

i ready have a lot of fun at the Robot Rodeo today---i am the first year guy in my team but i think i am really into Robot now---it was a little sad that my team come to 2 places because we were handicap many time ( maybe 3-4 times, the grabber broken during the competition)--but it was really kool game---congratulation to team 179 and 1402---i am going to bed, so tired

[Stephen Kowski]

Captain's Log: (1:15 am) successfully returned from the Rodeo and want to thank all the people for planning this event....getting better every year. now the night is still young so im leavin.....cya

[Barry Bonzack]

I just got home, and find that I have no voice. I had a very good time and want to send thanks again to Nathan Pell, Dan Welsh, and the entire Freedom team to making sure this all got to happen for my team.

Congrats to my mentoring team, 1402, and to my many friends on 179. Thanks for the swamp shirt so I could cheer for both teams in the alliance even harder!

I am now uploading over 550 pictures to my computer, and I'll be spending a chunk of my day tomorrow sorting through them. I love my camera

recap... Yay! Good time! Thanks! Congrats! Pics!

[Tytus Gerrish]

I espeicaly liked the part when the goat ran across the courtyard and escaped.

[Adare180]

The Rodeo was Awesome!! The new rookies on our team were given an opportunity to try out driving and operating SAM, and they got a little taste of what FIRST is about. I got to try driving too, and now I know I'll stick to being photographer, driving isn't for me! Congratulations to 179 and 1402 for winning this year's rodeo! Maybe the Children of the Swamp (also winners of the team spirit award) can help bring out the spirit in our new team members before the Florida Regional.

My Homecoming SPAM capes must be lucky, for Tytus and Amanda were wearing them when they won! My thanks goes to Barry for taking awesome pictures of all the teams, and sharing his spirit for both SPAM and Swamp Thing during the final rounds. The Florida Chapter of the RCU met for the first official meeting, and I think that with all the FIRST girls in the state, we can pull off something great in the next year. I can't wait to see everyone again!!! Thank you to 1083 and 1068 for hosting such a great event!

[tiffany34990]

it was a great rodeo!!

i'm glad harmony high school got to get together and come-
barry glad you had soo much fun and took great photos of all the teams--it shows how much spirit you have for the FIRST community and you cheering for swampthing and our team was really nice of you-gracious professionalism all the way--one day i'll have to show you the s.p.a.m. dance
and thanks to mike walker too--for helping s.p.a.m. cheer on--and great combat cheer
swampthing--great spirit of course s.p.a.m. loves you guys
and well thanks to everyone at rodeo-- soo much fun! thanks to the volunteers and judges too


South Florida Chapter of the RCU-- we had our meeting and i think it went well-- i'll be in touch with all that came-any ?s about it just let me know

i'm glad our rookies got to see the great world of FIRST -- i think we got some hooked i hope the other teams rookies stay on---FIRST is such a great community-- you make soo many friends as i well know

enjoy everyone!

[Barry Bonzack]

The first FIRST experience I really had was the 2003 Robot Rodeo where I really caught the bug and started getting into it. Now the 2004 Robot Rodeo has passed, and I have ganged many things the past year that I will remember forever, whether it be memories of build season, the knowledge I have ganged from my mentors, and the one thing that I truly hope stays with me the rest of my life... the friendships I have made.

The more robotics competitions I go to, the less it seems like the teams in competition, but instead just a bunch of friends gathering together to run what they have each have been working on.

This is more than the normal gracious professionalism of teams that are willing to help others for no reason other than the fact that there is a team in need of help. Teams have seemed to truly formed bonds with members of other teams, and they have included me in this, what a wonderful feeling. FIRST really truly is not about the robots, is it?

I look forward to the 2005 season with all the knowledge and friendships I will again gain because of FIRST, and I will personally continue grow and better myself as a person. You can bet I will be at the Rodeo next year as a college student, encouraging high schoolers in my area to get involved.

[Andrew Rudolph]

Sorry for there not being a webcast, but with the whole crazyness with the game computer crashing i didnt have time to set it up sorry...Also sorry for not posting pics of the trophies before the comp, they werent 100% until the day of the competition. So for thoes who didnt get to peep them I will be uploading a bigger copy of this picture to the galleries, but use this to hold you down for now.