Your Best FIRST Experience

[Beth Sweet]

My best experience had to be this year at the Wisconsin regional.

Last year was pretty diappointing, because while we were able to make a very nice looking robot, functionality wasn't our strong point. We only attended one regional and didn't get selected for the tournament.

This year, we really got things together. We performed well at Detroit and at that time, it felt very satisfying. Then we went to Wisconsin. I watched my kids in the pits, talking to judges and putting the safety glasses on the blow-up leprecan (yes, that's spelled wrong). When things went wrong, I watched them grab the robot, at some points, go inside the robot, fix it and put it out on the field fully functioning. I saw my kids thinking up strategies and counter-strategies for each robot and alliance. I saw my kids really experiencing what the program is all about. That makes me feel like all of the hard work and time that myself and our team's other mentors have put in has truly been worth it. That is the best feeling that I know of.

[thatphotochick]

well really the best experience in FIRST, yet, for me really was the sheer disbelief that 395, 1038, and 1743 won at pittsburgh. 1038 came into pittsburgh not knowing how well the robot would work, how stable it would be, if it was robust, if it was completely done or if it needed more work, and the team was a bit disorganized. but when we all (395, 1743, and 1038) gathered by the field to see the results of the last match and saw the results that we won...all we could do was jump and shout and hug everyone we saw, i was crying...if we really were not certain what was going on i'm sure there'd be some kissing going on. it was just a great moment for me..being someone that never won anything..being a part of 3 teams that came together and tried and succeed

[BHOP]

My favorite best FIRST expirence is probably during the semifinals on Einstein. I was on the field operatung the arm. We were down a match, then we came back and won one. During the thrid match at the very end, with like 10 secs left, we grabbed a tetra. 5...4...3...2...1...Time slowed down as I watched the tetra fall onto the goal to cancel out the red alliances row, break the tie and win the match...0 ERRRRRR! After we beat that alliance, I knew we had won nationals. Probably my favorite match ever knowing I pressed a little button to win us nationals. Our alliance pulled out tons of last second saves, thanks HOT and Beachbots, you guys rocked.

[Ben Lauer]

Refereeing at IRI in 2005. Awesome teams, laid back fun. I got to meet some really awesome people, and the best seats in the house.

[akshar]

my best FIRST experience was this past weekend at the 'FIRST' ever Boston Regional, my team, 1568, was ranked 40 and our record was 2-8. the team knew we had a very good defensive bot, but going into alliance picking we wernt sure that our rank would help at all. and then it was time for the top seed 121, and 233 to pick its last alliance member, and they picked us...for defense, scouting does help after all, we ended up going to the finals and winning, we did what we did best, play defense and we won the regional. Looking ahead, since this might be the teams last year (lost 2 last year including me, will lose 5 this year and leaves 4 members behind and no programmar) this is the best experience i have had

- thanks to 121 and 233 for making it possible

[Dan Petrovic]

Buckeye Regional last year was intense.

It started with the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. That was nice. Then Halo 2 every night in the hotel rooms. Then the practice rounds showing all of the midwest teams what the New England teams are made of. We attempted to cap four tetras on the center goal but were slightly tapped by another robot and went crashing down. I heard the entire stadium all yell out "Aww!". One of the Regional Champions told us that they were going to pick us but we were picked by another team before they got the chance.

Then to top it all off we were slaughtered by the National Champions, team 67 HOT, in the first round of the finals.

[Almaster]

I experience one of my best FIRST Experiences at the SO CAL regional this past weekend. Due to a lot of different things team 22 was in a big whole on Thursday and Friday!!! everything that could go wrong went wrong at the regional. we basically had to do our robot from scratch! well anyways, every time we needed something within 30 seconds we would have at least 10 teams at our pit ready to help or offer what they had!! then finally when we got on the field on Saturday we got a standing ovation, i felt the love and gracious Professionalism from every team there!!

all i could say is THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT HELPED!!!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO TEAM 599 and 330 who Showed us why they are both soo superior in FIRST!!!!

-team 22

[bbguy5]

Probably becoming friends with Baxter bomb squad and road tripping it from chicago to mountain home for spring break in 2001. Or at the GLR making a half court shot in 2001, or being on stage at florida in front of all those people. FIRST was definitley the best time I ever had in HS.

[Team75electric]

My best was definatly recently at boston. Dean and Woody were there, and we won autodesk visualisation award. Then we eon the engineering Inspiration award for the second time.

we have recieved 4 Autodesk visualisation awards in the past 4 years

and we are the first team to win 2 EI awards at different reagionals in the same year

[Koko Ed]

Nothing beats the 2005 FLR experince. What a fun weekend all around. From the overwhelming spirit to the absolutely fun after party and of course winning the regional (after 14 years of futility) didn't hurt niether.

[Joe J.]

This year at Wisconsin 862 won two awards; Delphi "Driving Tomorrows Technology" and DiamlerChrylser Team Spirit Awards, as well as getting selected for the tournament by 525 and 1732. It was amazing to get two awards at one regional after not getting a single one for 3 years.

[irishninja]

My best experience was yesterday. Throughout the entire bulid season, our team had lots of trouble just getting started and then making it work. Yesterday we demonstrated our pulling through, and we made finals with 759 and 421. Thanks a ton guys it was a great season. And congratulations to 1880 395 and 375 for winning. Definatley my best moment.

[YonZ]

Originally Posted by irishninja

Yesterday we demonstrated our pulling through, and we made finals with 759 and 421.

That was an awesome day, but my best FIRST experience has to be winning The Chairman's Award last year at NYC. We were really going for the award, and I had worked a lot on it throughout the season, was one of the three team members representing the team at the presentation, and had organized one of and been to many of the events we held, etc. that Dean (who was at NYC on Saturday and made the presentation of the Chairman's Award) was reading off of the paper that the judges handed to him. It was very exciting and emotional, and was a great achievement for the team-- and it was great to be a contender for the award that took us to the Championship!

[EricRobodox]

Originally Posted by Almaster

I experience one of my best FIRST Experiences at the SO CAL regional this past weekend. Due to a lot of different things team 22 was in a big whole on Thursday and Friday!!! everything that could go wrong went wrong at the regional. we basically had to do our robot from scratch! well anyways, every time we needed something within 30 seconds we would have at least 10 teams at our pit ready to help or offer what they had!! then finally when we got on the field on Saturday we got a standing ovation, i felt the love and gracious Professionalism from every team there!!

all i could say is THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT HELPED!!!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO TEAM 599 and 330 who Showed us why they are both soo superior in FIRST!!!!

-team 22

Thank You, it was a pleasure and fun to machine half your robot at the machine shop with Jim and Tom, as well as help team 22 out at our Robotics FIRST Aid station. Good luck at nationals. I was very happy to know that i helped a lot with your robot, as well as you guys getting on the field.

Have fun at nationals. we wont be going because of senior prom conflicting with the date and half the team are seniors.

[KathieK]

2006 update: Best FIRST experience this year: getting my n.e.r.d. shirt, walking into the new Connecticut Convention Center the Wednesday before the UTC New England FRC Regional and the New England Regional Vex Event and seeing how the months of meetings, planning, e-mails and cellphone calls had come together in that giant venue! Greeting the teams on Thursday morning in the lobby, watching their faces as they peered through the doors waiting to enter the hall, greeting the Vex teams on Friday morning (many of whom traveled VERY long distances to be with us for one day in Hartford)...meeting old friends and new ones.. seeing the eyes of the VIPs light up in Boston when I brought them onto the playing field and into the pits; and of course, being honored with both the UFH and 2006 UTC NER Volunteer of the Year Award knowing that there are thousands of worthy volunteers making this program happen all over the world.