a BIG thank you!

[SugaRaXie]

Wow, this definitely means a lot man. I thought I had replied to this...but I guess not [$@#$@#$@#$@#, I replied with 'thanks' to your button collections thread instead!] --

Seriously...this means a lot; though, there's no need to really thank us -- I know I've said this several times -- but, seriously, we wouldn't have gotten as far as we did without 1596 -- and it was definitely a disappointment to not see you guys at GTR.

I have to admit -- the past four years for 1219 were amazing. First year we managed to nab the rookie-all star award [Friday] at the Canadian Regional. Second year we were the only school with two seperate teams [1219 - Iron Eagles - for boys, 1309 - Diamond Eagles - for girls] -- probably one of thee, if not thee, biggest teams in FIRST. Third year -- horrible at GTR -- but Atlanta was beyond amazing. 5th of 85 [4th alliance captain] definitely brought our spirits up -- placing higher than any other Non-US team in the History of the Championships made our FIRST experience beyond amazing. Fourth year -- this year -- 2nd of 30 in Waterloo and getting the Innovation in Control Award -- amazing. It's a shame we can't go to Atlanta this year...we didn't have the money so we didn't put our names in when the tier's opened up and what not; it definitely would've made the year of all those graduating this year [like me].

We definitely wouldn't have done it without any of the teams that helped us along the way...it was definitely because of you guys we did as well as we did; we all learned from each other.

2004 Canadian Regional:

• 1114 -- Derek Bessette -- THANKS A LOT. I don't even thanks covers how much you helped 1309 [Girls team] out in 2nd year! Thanks a lot -- I doubt we would've gotten as far in the competition as we had without your help.
• 843 & 758 -- we were beyond happy when you guys asked us to be on your alliance. We thank you BEYOND words!

2005 Championships:

• 1507 & 694 -- we made it to the semifinals because of YOU guys! You guys gotta admit...winning that quarter-finals match was an amazing feeling...especially since we were up against some amazing teams.
• 854 -- although we didn't all get along; it was still awesome we all went down to Atlanta together. If we were all [you guys and us] were all going this year again -- we should've all bussed together! Maybe this time we'd have a second chance to make a first impression -- since our first impressions to one another went sour. None-the-less, we'd like to thank you guys for accompanying us to the Championships last year!

2005 Wonderland Off-Season Invitational:

• 865 & 1680 -- Thanks a bunch for picking us at Wonderland -- it was awesome.

2006 Waterloo Regional:

• 1596 & 912 -- we made it as far as we did because of you guys; trust me when I say this. If we hadn't had our problems in the regional, I think we would've made it farther than just the semi's -- then again, all we can do is speculate now eh. It was awesome working with you guys -- I hope to come back next year and mentor so I can work with you guys again -- hopefully on the same side of the field rather than the opposite end!
• 68 -- Thanks for the 'Play of the Day' award -- haha, we proudly displayed it at GTR!

2006 Greater Toronto Regional:

• 1281 & 45 -- it was AMAZING working with you guys! Its disappointing we didn't get as far as we had hoped, but it was still a fun experience! Too bad we won't see you guys in ATL, since we aren't going. It was a fun run -- thanks for picking us -- I think we had a pretty solid alliance!

Man, now that I think about it -- its gonna be so sad next year. Busy with uni...FIRST was a beyond fun experience! I hope there is a 1219 next year -- a bunch of us want to come back and mentor the new/up-coming kids and make it as awesome for them as it was for us. And...fine, I'll admit it -- we aren't able to let FIRST go! haha, as I told many of my friends -- I'm not letting FIRST go until 1219 [or any team I'm on/mentoring] wins a regional -- I refuse to let my FIRST career/experience die without winning a regional!