2007 Waterloo Regional

[Karthik]

What an amazing weekend!!! This event was just a blast. The intimate arena and amazing teams helped create an electric atmosphere. I always do a poor with these threads, and I apologize in advance if I miss anyone. In no particular order, I'd like to thank...

Team 2056 - Since 2003, it seems like there's one Canadian rookie who just blows everyone out of the water. This year it was Patriotics. This team should be example every rookie team follows. They chose a simple design, and finished their robot in 4 weeks. They used their final two weeks on programming and practice, and boy did it show. Special thanks to Tyler Holtzman for the fabulous job he did with this team.

Team 771 - Congratulations on you first regional win. Our teams have developed a strong friendship over the past two years, especially with our honorary Simbots, Kate and Michelle. We really wanted to work with you in 2006, and we're glad we could in 2007. Keep playing that hard nosed defense.

Team 1305 - After three engineering inspiration awards in the past two years, it's about time that you were recognized with the Chairman's Award. Your team is a role model within the Canadian community, and judges description of your team blew me away. Not to mention, you came to play with another amazing drivetrain.

Team 1503 - After playing with you for three events last year, it's weird playing against you so often this year. Your robot keeps improving, and I know you're going to be a force in Toronto and Atlanta.

Team 2166 - Your robot came so far this weekend. I'm glad we were able to help you out with your various issues. For those haven't seen this team, they have a very easy to climb double ramp, and a powerful drivetrain.

Team 1592 - I was shocked when I saw a team from Florida appear on the Waterloo team list. I hope you enjoyed your time up north, I know the entire event was enriched by your presence. You brought us a taste of some really intense Florida spirit.

Team 610 - You guys have a robot that is on the verge of hitting the elite level. Hopefully we'll get another match schedule where we play with each other three times.

Paul Copioli - Thanks for coming up from Detroit to our event. It was a total blast working with you, and I hope we can do it again sometime.

This was the third year of the Waterloo Regional, and each year it keeps getting better. This is a direct result of the amazing volunteers that put this event together. People like Ian Mackenzie, Rob Gorbet and Maud Gorbet put their heart and soul into this event, and it shows.

Team 1114 is very proud to support this event, and can't wait to return next year.

[Kate00]

It appears that some thanks are in order.

Ian Mackenzie & the regional planning committee: that was the most amazing regional I’ve ever been to. The new layout was awesome, and there was an amazing vibe through the entire regional. Thank you as well for thinking of me to give the speech at closing ceremonies – it was an amazing experience.

Thanks to Karthik and Mr. Copioli for an amazing emceeing/announcing job. Mr. Copioli, you need to put away the Michigan flag and start cheering for a decent college football team. 42-39.

1114 – It was incredible working with you guys – the whole atmosphere was so friendly. The help you gave us with our robot, the strategies that you came up with, you are truly amongst the elite teams in FIRST, with your robot, your strategy, and your gracious professionalism. You made us feel very welcome as a part of that alliance. The whole experience hasn’t really sunk in yet.

2056 - Your robot is amazing, and I'd be shocked if you guys don't go really really far. For those of you who didn't realize, qf1.1, 1114's gripper was bent. 2056 scored 7 ringers on their own. This rookie is capable of amazing things.

It was truly an honour to be picked by the two best teams at the competition. The scoring that you guys were able to put up, and 1114’s ramp - you could have won it without us, no problem.

1006, 854 and 1305 - Thank you for a very hard fought finals.

188 - Your robot was amazing, and the way you went out was incredibly painful. We really feel for you guys – hopefully GTR will be a lot better for you. Congrats on the awards.

Jess Breadner, best human player ever.

I've always loved this regional, and this year it got stepped up a notch. There were so many offensive bots, it was really cool to see the rack almost get filled so many times. Hope to see most of you at GTR!

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Team 1592 - I was shocked when I saw a team from Florida appear on the Waterloo team list. I hope you enjoyed your time up north, I know the entire event was enriched by your presence. You brought us a taste of some really intense Florida spirit.

maybe you guys should take a visit down here next year for the super regional, it would be a blast to have a Canadian FIRST team competing alongside us Florida Teams. I mean imagine the likes of 1114, 1503, 233, 79, and 180 in the same building, only nationals would be a better event

[Arefin Bari]

I gotta say it. Team 2056 caught my eye from the beginning of friday morning. I was quite surprised to see such a quality bot from a rookie team. Congratulations on the win.

Team 1114, you guys did an amazing job. The gold for the regional and the gold for the EIA is very well deserved. Can't wait to see you guys at championship. Like I said in the other thread, I may disqualify your team during inspection again just to drive karthik nuts. That's something I will never forget.

Team 1305, wow you guys have come very far. I still remember the first day I saw you guys. It seems like you guys always work as a team, always come up with a jaw dropping machine, the Chairmans is very well deserved. See you guys at the championship.

Team 771, about time you guys win the gold. I was very happy for you guys. Your strategy through the finals were very interesting. Good job.

Team 854, you guys amazed me with your machine. I admired the way the machine performed and worked. Great job.

Waterloo regional finals were by far the best finals I have seen. It was all about scoring. I can hardly think of any match where less than 10 tubes were scored. All the machines were scoring beasts. You guys will put up a good competition at the championship. Heck, who knows, maybe the gold is going back to canada again.

oh, forget to mention that the DJ rocked my socks off.

[rjmah]

As usual the Waterloo Regional did not disappoint me. It's a great venue and seems to bring the best competitors.

Unfortunately, we drew the short straw on pits this year. It wasn't even 9x9 because there was a huge support pillar in the corner. We were crammed against the partition but we managed OK.

Thursday was spent re-rigging our elevator only to find it was 0.3 lbs overweight at 4:15. We had some problems with throwing drive chains but they will be fixed for GTR. Our gripper got destroyed in one match but we have re-mounted a modified one.

We appreciate being able to participate in the quarter finals with 1846 and 1815. Looking at the second match on video, we might have sqeaked a win by a strategicaly placed spoiler.

[Kate00]

Originally Posted by Arefin Bari

Team 771, about time you guys win the gold. I was very happy for you guys. Your strategy through the finals were very interesting. Good job.

Our robot was a work in progress throughout the eliminations. We added 20 pounds of steel at the beginning, which threw off the drivetrain, so we then added tread to our untreaded wheels. In Finals 1, I think it was, we lost a chain. Literally. They couldn't even find it on the field. We replaced it, and added zip tie tensioners to the chains. I think what happened was that they were too tight, as the robot would take a long time to react to the drive joysticks. We should have it all fixed for GTR.

Thank you to 1114 and 2056 for helping us through this. Without your help, we would have been unable to move.

[rjmah]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

I just got all the footage from Steve of the archived webcast. I am going to try and put up the elimination matches first. The footage I have now is only from the webcast, which will be low quality, but in the next few weeks we will post the footage from a DVD recorder. So no complaining about the quality

Link:
http://www.soap.circuitrunners.com/2007/movies/wat/

I see you have all the qualifiers up now. Thanks so much for putting these up so quick!

[Jeff Waegelin]

I'd just like to send out a thank-you to our two partners, Teams 68 and 758. We put together one of the best defensive alliances I've ever seen, and came so close to pulling it off! So, thanks again to our fellow Michiganders from Truck Town, and our new friends from 758!

Additionally, I'd like to thank Paul Copioli for helping us with the University of Michigan spirit. I'm sure Karthik just loved having you dress up in Maize and Blue and wave our flag every match

[Mr. Lim]

"WOW!" is the one word I can use to describe this regional. It was an amazing experience, and far different than any other Waterloo regional ever held - and I mean that in a VERY positive way!

The calibre of robots at Waterloo blew my mind. There was no shortage of scoring - both rings and ramps, no shortage of defense, and solid strategic play throughout. I'm getting shivers thinking what GTR is going to be like.

There are so many to thank and congratulate: 1114, 2056, 771 - with good friends on all three teams, this is as good our own team taking the regional win ourselves =P. Okay not quite, but pretty darn close! Great job!

To our alliance partners, 1592 and 1334 - I've seen many a match played in my FIRST career, both those involving our robot and those not, but Q2-4 will forever be etched in my mind as one of the most exciting matches I've ever witnessed, not only for what happend in those 2:15, but for also for the ensuing 20 minutes of drama.

To 1503, 1680 and 2166, the alliance who defeated us in the quarters - we couldn't have lost to a classier group. I'm sure there were moments of panic after Q2-4, but in the end, I'm glad that the refs took the time to correct the mistake, and ensured that the right alliance moved on. Our students and I mentally scored it 28-27 your win, at the end of the match. We were just as perplexed, however far more excited, when we saw the incorrect score posted.

Last but certainly not least, I wanted to share my personal favourite moment at the Waterloo regional. This one is a bit obscure, but fellow 188 members, alumni and friends will certainly get a kick out of this one. Listen carefully!

Cheers to all who all helped make Waterloo such a resounding success! And see you all at the GTR!

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by SlimBoJones

Last but certainly not least, I wanted to share my personal favourite moment at the Waterloo regional. This one is a bit obscure, but fellow 188 members, alumni and friends will certainly get a kick out of this one. Listen carefully!

Shawn,

How did you get that played? For some reason I don't think it was on the regular playlist.

[Mr. Lim]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Shawn,

How did you get that played? For some reason I don't think it was on the regular playlist.

It never ceases to amaze just how effective it is to "just ask nicely!"

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Karthik

How did you get that played? For some reason I don't think it was on the regular playlist.

Originally Posted by SlimBoJones

It never ceases to amaze just how effective it is to "just ask nicely!"

Well, it should be on the regular playlist -- certainly in Canada.