2Train Robotics = Class Act

[Bill Moore]

A salute to 2Train Robotics for their ultimate act of graciousness and sportsmanship at the Pittsburgh Regional. When the opposing robots were not repaired by the time finals were to begin, the First Seeded Alliance, led by 2Train Robotics, called a "time out" to allow their opponents additional time to complete the repairs. A class act that deserves recognition. Congratulations on the Regional Championship; your team is great by all measures!

[UlTiMaTeP]

Amen, the team history behind "2 train" is amazing as well. Talk about a team who has struggled through all obstacles and still comes out to be #1. I knew they had dedicated team members, which is why I picked them for an alliance at the championship event last year. Hats off to you

[Joe Matt]

Yes, 2Train is an amazing team, we worked with them in 2003 to win the VCU regional, along with 388.

Bravo guys.

[chaoticprout]

I love it when I see GP like this! woot

[Cyberguy34000]

Last year at the colorado regional, Pink (233) and the Robonauts (118) were against us in semi-finals and they used their timeout to give us enough time to repair a broken alliance robot. They went on to completely kick out butts in the next match, but they were very gracious about it.

You just have to love the GP in FIRST.

[Waynep]

Thank you for all of your kind words. Bill to be saluted by a representative of MOE we are truly honored. 710 was an amazing alliance captain last year, I cannot thank you for having belief in my students. We were sorry that we wound up with problems during the QFs, but would love to run with you guys again. Joe, I cannot say enough good things about Sparky we still talk about how much we miss going down to Virginia and competing with y'all. Hope all of your teams are doing well, best of luck at your regionals and we will be looking forward to seeing you again at the Championship. Now let me tell you a couple of other things regarding this T/O:

This isn't the first time we've done this. Last year at NYC we were the #1 alliance captain also. In the finals the opposing alliance had their star capper, team 38, break its tetra capture mechanism. We wanted to see them play their best so we called the T/O. Our students have also taken note of the other instances of GP that they've witnessed on and off the field. Let's just say at Pittsburgh and Virginia they learned from some of the very best. Right before finals, I was busy as the Emcee talking with the event coordinators to see if we were going to go to awards first or continue running finals. One of my students comes over and tells me, well our rookie alliance partner through a chain, we can fix it, but I think the other alliance captain (393 FMJ that rocked) could really use a timeout. I gave him the nod, and he went over to the head referee, the wonderful Carol Perotto, and requested the T/O for the other alliance. These are the moments that we all strive for in FIRST as mentors, as participants, and as teammates when our students understand the true meaning of FIRST and that winning isn't everything. We knew that the fully running #2 alliance would put up a pretty even match. I don't think we had more fun and were ever more friendly with the opposing alliance in the finals than here at Pittsburgh. Doo doo doo-ing it with 393. Jeremiah thanks for the Bull Whip lesson btw.

Other instances of GP at Pitts. 1708 Natural Selection, was drafted for the elimination rounds to the alliance of 63 and 1708. 1708 was having problems and could also not pass inspection. The Red Barons and MOE, furiously worked to help this second year team following alliance selections to hopefully get them running. Regretfully, they couldn't so they requested a substitution. Even while running eliminations, members of both teams continued to work with 1708, right before the awards Ceremony some of the students came over to me from the alliance with smiles on the face and said we did it 1708s up and running and ready for their next competition. I'd also like to give a shout out to Mike Dischner of 1708, for receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award. I met him last year when his team was a rookie and cannot believe the progress he and his team has made. As a second year team, they are already mentoring rookie teams and spreading the word of FIRST. Mike thank you for your hard work, keep it up!

The Miracle Workerz are an amazing team. They truly deserved the WFA and Chairman's Award. Guys I'm rooting for you at the Championship! They routinely offered parts, assistance, expertise, and tools to countless teams. When my team had a bent axle and could not compete in one of the Qualifying Matches with them they said that's alright we understand it happens, and following the match one of the mentors came over to our pit to check up and see if he could lend a hand. During the eliminations I thought of them as the universal pit crew. It did not matter what alliance it was if there was anything they could lend or do for a team they did it. 1743 is still very appreciative for what you did for them.

I'm sure there were countless other stories that were not told, and I might post more as I think of them. But thank you again to those here on CD that have taken the time to acknowledge my team. We're very appreciative. I'll pass the word along to my students, not all of them have regular computer access. Best of luck to all of the teams. I hope to hear more stories of GP from your teams at the other regionals and at the Championship!

Best,
Wayne

[roborat]

2train is indeed a class act. Wayne, you amazed me at being the MC and not showing a word of favoritism to your team and probably did not give them enough attention. Team 1249 is glad we know you guys and were pitted beside of you in Pittsburgh and saw first hand the work of you crew and students. Good luck in Championships. Team 1249 The RoboRats of West Virginia.

[dlavery]

I have been impressed by 2Train ever since we first saw them at the VCU regional several years ago. They are a high-class team, with a great work ethic. Wayne's message above is a wonderful example of the values and perspectives of a team that "gets it".

-dave

[StephLee]

As a member of the alliance that benefitted from 2train's awesome display of GP, I'd like to heartily thank them. I'm the coach on team 1629, and until now I hadn't even realized that was why our alliance had more time to try and fix team 393's robot. Guess I was concentrating too hard. I'm really impressed with the sportsmanship of 395, they brought their entire alliance over to shake hands with us right after the last match without any official prompting. They're an awesome team, and they deserved to win. Congrats, guys: you earned it.

[Greg Perkins]

2Train, if you don't remember me, I was a ref at Pittsburgh last year. I remember how you guys handled the situation when your robot (which was fantastic) had a power or radio problem in the elimination rounds, and how you guys unregrettably forgave your spot to fill in with another robot. I know this decision was tough, and to take such an excellent robot out of the competition was certainly heartbreaking. However, even placing the trust in another robot to carry your alliance, you still cheered, and rooted as if you were still competeing. Needless to say because of your determination, your alliance won!
Now the kicker, was their alliance replacement was a rookie robot who had barely passed inspection on thursday, and was kind of the laughing stock all weekend (the natural selection team if i remember correctly)....until the finals when they stepped in to fill a seemingly major set of shoes. Turns out the 1pt tetra bot that they evolved into all weekend turned out to be a championship winner. Cograts to them for not throwing in the towel! And again, congratulations to 2train for being so darn nice! (even if you all are yankee fans )

~Greg

[Gene F]

Add me to the list of people that have been impressed by 2Train. I met them a few years back at VCU and have kept an eye on them as they impressed me as an up and coming team. They have proven it again and again!

Well done 2train!

[irishninja]

Go 2train. Can't wait to see you guys at NY.

[sanddrag]

I believe the one of the first history making instances of this type of action was in 2004 at the Arizona regional by the 696, 80, 498 alliance. It was before the last match of finals. We were facing 330 and their partners. We knew we didn't stand a chance. Then robots start coming on the field. 330 isn't thier. "330, calling team 330." Minutes pass "330 your robot needs to be on the field or you will be disqualified" We knew they didn't have a chance with only 1 robot on the field. 330 was the star of the alliance. We could legally win a regional in accordance with the rules. Then all of a sudden Courtney from 330 comes running up to me like she had just seen her life flash before her eyes. She tells me their robot controller is broken and they need more time. Even if I wanted to win the regional, and get big sponsors and have everlasting success as a team, when I saw her face there was absolutely no way we could say no even if we had otherwise wanted to. We knew we would lose and lose we did. But we knew that even though the rules and the referees gave us the choice to deny them the chance to play, it wasn't even an option for us to consider. We would lose fairly over winning unfairly any day.

[MissInformation]

We were lucky to be next to 2Train in the pit in Richmond in 2004 and they impressed me so much that ever since then when my team registers for a regional they are one of the teams I scan the registration list for, with hopes of being at the same regional as them. I'm actually kind of shy, I have no problem talking to people when they approach me, but I rarely actually approach strangers, but I had heard a bit of this team's story and I wanted to hear more so I went up to this guy and pretty much said "so, tell me about your team" and I think I kind of made him nervous, but he did shyly answer my questions. And later I talked to this guy (I have a bad habit of not asking names when I talk to people) and he was just about the nicest person I talked to at that entire event.

Regionals are already great events, but team 395 made that one all the more special!

Heidi

[Waynep]

Heidi, thanks for sharing the story. The first guy is Daniel Cherry; that was his first year with us and he was really shy to begin with. The interesting thing is that he definitely remembers that conversation with you. He told me that the first competition at VCU really changed him. His first conversation was with a girl from 116 who was really nice, he was really nervous at first but she was nice and really listened. Daniel gained a lot of confidence and I guess we have you to thank.

The second guy is Rueben Bridges. He was one of the original members of the team 7 years ago and has now become one of the mentors. The kids affectionally know him as old man or grandpa. He will pretty much help you with anything you ever ask him for and now kindly guides the way for our students.

Gene, as you know we are big fans of Metal in Motion. But I don't know if I ever told you more specifically why. You were one of the first mentors that approached my students and talked to them that year. Your students were gracious and inviting. So 343 definitely made us feel welcome at VCU. Our team has benefitted greatly from meeting you guys. Thank you again for your kind comments.

As Heidi and Gene has demonstrated, there are spectacular individuals in FIRST that are willing to share their story and learn something about you if you take the chance at approaching them. We help each other learn and grow through our interactions. To all the students that read this, I challenge you all to do what Heidi did and take the time to get to know at least one student or team better at the competition and share your FIRST experiences.

Please give my regards and best wishes to the rest of 116 and 343, and stop by to visit us at the Championship.

Best,
Wayne