2006 Philadelphia Regional

[George A.]

Well I just got home...and 600 miles, two sore feet, and a lost voice later...a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who made Philly possible...from Chiniqua who helped me pump up the crowd, to Laura for "herding the cats to the field" to Sunny for officiating an awesome competition, Philly was one of the best regionals I've ever been to.

So if you'd like to have me back as your Play by Play announcer again next year, I'd be happy to come back just as long as you guys promise to continue the intensity that there was this year.


Oh and by the way, since i forgot to give her the shout out I promised her...


HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!

see everyone there next year!

[coastertux]

George, you did a great job doing play-by-play! I hope to hear you again at Philly next year.

[karinka13]

Thanks to everyone who helped make Philly possible!! Judges, Mentors, Volunteers, etc. You're AWESOME!

A BIG shoutout to our ghanaian friends as well, we all really bonded throughout the competition and they're so excited to be participating next year!

(ps. and thanks to george for saying happy bday)

[sporticus99]

George, I had a great time working with you the past couple of days. You did an awesome job in energizing the crowd. Hope to work with you again next year.

Sunny

[Chris Marra]

A long bus ride back from Philadelphia to Connecticut, and the regional is finally over for me. I just want to congratulate every team who competed at the regional for all of their hard work and dedication in building and competing with their robots. Philly was a great regional to attend, even if the venue was a little hot. The match play throughout the weekend was consistently high quality, and I had fun both driving and spectating against some very very good teams.

A huge thanks to teams 291 and 306 for their amazing match play in the elimination rounds, and thanks to 84, 205, and 104 for the close matches we played in the finals against them. Of course everyone at the regional did a great job. After having attended Boston and Philadelphia now, I'm really excited by the enthusiasm and support teams have given to teams and students from other countries.

I look forward to seeing the SOAP archives, and I know our partners, CIA, had a tapedeck set up at the video station, which is something that should be offered at every regional.

[TomWx]

I've been gone from FIRST for too long.

I've been so busy with college, the last time (before thursday) I had any contact with FIRST was through VIMS and the prior year's competition. That was a mistake that I'm not making again.

This year was my seventh straight year that I was at Drexel. 3 years as a student (8th-10th grade), 4 years as a volunteer. I've now done almost everything there is to do in FIRST. I've built, designed, and drove a robot. I've worked to get people hyped and secure funding. I've done team queueing, pit admin, field reset/repair, referee, VIP stuff, field assembly/breakdown, gopher for Carol, and now Judge Assistant. The only thing left is Crowd Control, Emcee, and paid staff.

I was trying to explain to a friend why I keep volunteering while everyone else from my team has graduated and moved on. I keep doing this because I see the excitement in the kids' eyes, and I know what they're doing is actually changing their world. These high school students are making their communities better because of their involvement in FIRST. These high school kids are, quite literally, changing the world.

Philly was small, cramped, and hot as usual. There was no practice field or area for robots to stretch their legs. The area outside became an extension of the area inside, with people playing frisbee or hackey-sack. The bleachers were packed, overflowing into the narrow aisles at any dance number. It's hard to move around.

And I wouldn't change it for the world. Thanks for making this my best year yet.

-Tom Wexler
Student, Temple University
Alumni, Team 487 (now 423)
Volunteer with the Tye-dye Mad Hatter hat.

[Ashley Weed]

Four grueling quarterfinal matches, a semifinal battle, and the will to not just stand down to two matches for the finals. 84, 250, and 104, be PROUD of the work you accomplished. You played twice as many quarterfinal matches and still made it to the big dance at the end. 291, 177, and 306, you were strong, defensive, and plotted strategies to make it to the top, Congratulations! Thanks to all the Philly teams for an amazing show all weekend. All of the matches were a delight to watch.

The venue for the Philly Regional was intense. The feel of the teams, the noise, and seeing students interacting outside reminded me when the Mid Atlantic Regional was in Rutgers small gymnasium. The Drexel staff was very friendly and accommodating; and a huge Thank You to Mr. Kressly for all of your hospitality this weekend.

The Firebirds have done a tremendous job at spreading the word of FIRST. Connecting with students from half way around the world. Best of luck with continuing this work, and possibly getting others to follow in your footsteps. Congratulations on your Engineering Inspiration.

[Kim Masi]

I know I'm being redundant but I want to say congrats to everyone who participated in Philly, it was an awesome regional, and I look forward to returning again. Thank you 291 for picking us, we could not have done it without you, and thanks to 306 who had amazing defense and an all-around solid robot. You guys were great to work with and I hope to see you in Atlanta!

Ha, I also think that the seven eleven across the street had some great business this weekend. I know 177 bought them out to get snacks for our busride home! haha.

[Mr MOE]

Philadelphia Rocks!!!

MOE 365 had a great time over the past few days. Just some observations:

TEAMS

Some fantastic teams competed at Philly. Here are a few of the teams that stood out to me...

- Daisy 341: love the turret, especially when your bot does the "hula hoop spin". Awesome autonomous, too.
- Cybersonics 103: super fast ball gatherer and sweet shooter
- Other great high shooters: 272, 486, 157, 563, 177, 250, 177
- Chuck 84: one word "TOUGH" having your bot unload a pile of balls reminds me of someone winning on a slot machine in Atlantic City. Payday!
- Other great low ball scorers: 291, 716, 379, 381, 306, 357, 816
- and a shout out to some great MOE defenders: 816 (only team that kept us off the ramp), 177 & 306 (ramp battlers)

VOLUNTEERS
- great as usual, the Philly volunteers form a nice family
- many of these volunteers have been wearing CREW shirts for many years, it would be nice to have some 5 or 10-year pin or something similar for FIRST volunteers

VENUE
- tight, warm, loud (tight and loud create great energy, warm was tough)
- I love the way teams can hang outside the pit area - great for team socialization
- practice field or area - yeah, I know there wasn't one. In my personal opinion, this is the only major drawback to this regional

Overall, thanks to each person who takes the time to say "hello," shake a hand, pat a shoulder, or gives a smile. These are the little things that, when added up, make to a terrific FIRST experience.

See you either in Atlanta, during the off-season, or at Philly next year!

[FIRST-ROCKS]

Well, I have to say that I had a fun time at Philly on Friday and Saturday. However I was completely surprise that no one pick Team 204, Eastern Robotic Vikings for an alliance . The reason I state this is because of two things:

1. A completely function-able robot. Great maneuverable, they were all over the field.
2. Great defensive robot. They block everyone that was shooting or trying to deliver balls to the corner goals. Also they block MOE on Friday from shooting on the ramp, just wanted to say.

I heard that they were going to the Championship, I wouldn't be surprise if they were a top contender.

Also I did like 365, 357, 84, and many other teams. Overall impressive regional.

[Robocat1]

Team 379 had a great time in Philly and hope to make it back every two or three years!

Perhaps the most amazing event was when Mike Mills (who was DJing the event) walked up to me in the stands. He was on our team during years 1 & 2 !
While our alumni often attend CLE to cheer us on (its only 90 minutes away), we never expected to see an alumni there, 6 hours from home!! And he never expected to go to college and have a job where his employer asked him to work a FIRST event (imagine his boss' surprise when Mike knew all about FIRST!).

What a small world FIRST creates!

Thanks to everyone for the fun, hospitatity and support!

[R.J.]

Philly rocked my socks it was fantastic. It was worth waiting in the quick down pouring rain for a cheese steak. I loved the music choice, one of the best I have heard in a while in my opinion. Teams 177, 291 and 306 did a superb job at the regional and congrats. Great job for teams 84, 250 and 104 as well. I like to also extend a congrats to team 433 for their Engineering Inspiration win and 357 for their Chairman's award win too. All the teams made Philly a worth while competition and fun. Great job to all teams. Even though the venue itself was a little bit tight there was so much energy and electricity in the air.

[Cody Carey]

WOW...

Philly this year was amazing... The semi-finals put me through my paces, the quarter-finals made me want to cry... and the finals were the most taxing matches that I have ever had to drive in. Congrats to the other philly finalists, You were amazing! Beautiful robots and wonderful driveteams, You guys were awesome! I am proud to have gotten the chance to play against you. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT REGIONAL!!!!!!!!

[looneylin]

Philly was soo awesome!

Thanks to everybody that everybody else in the previous 8 pages mentioned! I had soo much fun with our Ghanians! Go SEMPER!

Hope to see you all at nationals! *hopefully we can raise the $$$***

[Freddy Schurr]

Well, I have to say that I had a fun time at Philly on Friday and Saturday. However I was completely surprise that no one pick Team 204, Eastern Robotic Vikings for an alliance . The reason I state this is because of two things:

1. A completely function-able robot. Great maneuverable, they were all over the field.
2. Great defensive robot. They block everyone that was shooting or trying to deliver balls to the corner goals. Also they block MOE on Friday from shooting on the ramp, just wanted to say.

I heard that they were going to the Championship, I wouldn't be surprise if they were a top contender.

Why thank you so much? Yeah, I felt that we should had been selected but its OK, I am proud of my team. We were impress with our friends 84,357,341,365,56,484,1712 and many other teams . But by far our friends of Team 433 and hopefully the Ghanaians for getting the E.I award. We were so happy that you won, you girls deserve it.

Chiniqua and George for rocking the arena, you guys were great. I especially like how George kept the crowd in suspense to wards the end of the day.

The volunteers,Carol and her crew and Rich Kressely for putting on a rocking event, YOU ALL ROCK!

So yeah that's good, hope to see you all in Atlanta. Can't wait.

P.s

Two Things:

1. Why did you think of ERV and our robot?
2. If anyone has any video of our matches, please PM me. Thanks

PHILLY ROCK!