2006 Florida Regional

[Barry Bonzack]

What an awesome event. Totally worth revolving my entire year: mind, energy, time, and money, around this competition (and the championship). Congrats to every team that made a robot within six weeks and was able to compete this week! This is normally the end of the road for both my teams, but for the first time ever, 1390 and 1604 will be attending the Championship, and I am psyched. The regional I see more than ever that FIRST is not about the matches going on or what robot scores how many points (I didn't even get to see many of the matches... hooray for SOAP!) but there is nothing more fun than seeing friends that I've made throughout the past couple years... So here is a THANK YOU to each of you all, the true reason I continue my efforts in FIRST.

Kudos to my friends on SPAM as well as Krunch and Lakerbotics for putting on quite a show. Also congrats goes to the Rookie inspiration winners from Puerto Rico 1872 and my Allstar friends Exploding Bacon 1902... Oink Oink BOOM. Finally, way to go Pink and your efforts in setting the bar for all FIRST teams to follow. 233 is an inspiration and very much recognized with the Chairman's award. You all deserve it, congratulations.

[Kit Gerhart]

Congratulations to the winning alliance and the runner-up alliance. Special kudos to team 1902. You guys have a very effective, yet simple machine. It's great to see rookie teams start off so well.

Also, thanks, everyone, for the congratulations on our winning the Chairman's Award.

Regarding the robot competition, from the time of the kickoff, I felt that winning autonomous would be a very important of this game. After competing in this competition, I'd have to say it is a VERY VERY important part of the game, at least for us. Not only is the 10 point bonus significant, but from our standpoint, being on defence first is a huge advantage in that the backbot can be collecting balls in preparation for the offensive period. In general, I like this game.

[tiffany34990]

Congrats to Pink for winning Chairman's.

And to the winning alliance... GREAT JOB!!! Simply great scouting and strategy and of course robots made a really great team.

kudos to 1902.. you started out with some issues but made it all the way to the top! congratulations!

and of course hats off to all teams for working so hard and competing graciously throughout the weekend.

[Dan Richardson]

Thanks guys for the compliments, the competition was amazing! SOoo many strong robots there. Congrats to the winning alliance 180-79-1649 you guys were amazing S. P. A. M. SPAM SPAM SPAM! heh

Thanks again to our alliance for picking us, 357 and 1523 was terrific to work with we had a lot of fun along for the ride.

There were so many other great robots too like 233, 179, 61, 86, 190, 1029, 744, 710, 1345.. and the list goes on.

Special thanks goes out to all the people who helped us throughout the competition, we had a ton of problems the first 2 days, most notably the mentors from 710 and 744. Thanks so much for your help getting our drive train working effectively and giving us advice on what we could change for the Houston Regional.

As a rookie team its exciting to do well. As a 6 year veteran, yesterday was a good day, but seeing the kids so excited about what they had been able to accomplish in 8 weeks, thats what truly what made it all worth it.

Now the fun begins he he fund raising for nationals.

Thanks again for a great regional everyone.

[Stephen Kowski]

Congrats to everyone at the Florida Regional, I think we all had a great time!

Congratulations to the winning alliance 180 has always been so helpful, 79 what a effective machine and great team, 1649 great working with you in 2005.

I think Dan ran down the list of great machines so I am not gonna repeat it, but awesome stuff as usual at the FL Regional (btw congrats to 233 on chairmans).

Hopefully see you all at the Championship!!

[Gary Dillard]

One small item I always check at the regional that makes me feel good - every team who participated won at least one match. We've had years on top but many more on the bottom and I'm glad every team had the opportunity for a victory.

I couldn't be more proud of our team - top to bottom everyone contributed. The numbing task of detailed scouting by the majority of the team members, the pit crew who changed our ball feeder from pneumatics to motor-driven conveyor in 10 hours on Thursday, including all part fabrication (and we even made it to 2 practice matches), the animation team - our first win there, everyone who helped other teams which resulted in winning the sportsmanship award. What a weekend.

And Roccobots, we are rooting for you to win national chairmans award so we don't have to compete against you for the regional award any more. You have definitely set the bar at another level in all aspects. What a pleasure to be in competition with you, on and off the field.