'My Favorite Part was.....'

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Posted by Erin.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #1, The Juggernauts, from Oakland Technical Center-Northeast Campus and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST



You know how after a good movie you always recall your favorite part of that movie?

Well I was just wondering what anyone's favorite part of the compeititon was.

I am very bored, and I was very interested in these stories. I hope one day to write a great big book on my expereinces with FIRST and I am currently collecting these stories. If you could post one relating to your team and one of the nationals overall, and one of your favorite moment throughout the season. Ill share mine if you share yours
I'll be here waiting...

-erin

p.s. sunblock SPF 30 does not work. i give up.

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Posted by David McGovern.

Student on team #349, RoBahama, from International academy and Ford.

Posted on 4/12/2000 1:10 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



: You know how after a good movie you always recall your favorite part of that movie?

: Well I was just wondering what anyone's favorite part of the compeititon was.

: I am very bored, and I was very interested in these stories. I hope one day to write a great big book on my expereinces with FIRST and I am currently collecting these stories. If you could post one relating to your team and one of the nationals overall, and one of your favorite moment throughout the season. Ill share mine if you share yours
: I'll be here waiting...

: -erin

: p.s. sunblock SPF 30 does not work. i give up.

Haha, that's an easy one for me. The most memorable part of the competition was at Chicago when our robot hung on the bar, but the tether did not work when we tried to take it off the bar. So it was stuck up there while we frantically attempted to take it down. Everybody was stunned, our electrical engineer Matt was freaking out because we had not cleaned up our messy wiring job at that time (sorry Matt). Dean and Woodie were up there and couldn't figure out what was wrong with the robot, and finally to get piña robata off the bar after holding up the competition, the bar had to be removed!. Heh, by the time we finally got gator clips to apply power directly to the motor (we suspected a faulty wire), we recieved only one gator clip and no battery! It turned out that one tooth of the wrist gear was bent, a new one had to be fabricated afterward. That had to be one of the most embarrassing moments for our team.

Ciao all
David - team #349

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Posted by Patrick Seeney.

Student on team #469, Las Guerrillas, from Oakland Robotics and Lawrence Technological University and Magna Seating Systems, Nachi and Kuka Robotics.

Posted on 4/12/2000 8:10 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by David McGovern on 4/12/2000 1:10 PM MST:



I had a few memorable moments.
1) being allied with the amazing team 308 twice, i was sad to see them not be picked. If we had made it to the top, which we were close, we would have picked them all the way.

2) Our match against the highly defensive Robo Dawgs. With that arm parked under our basket, we were able to hold strong and blow away the match.

Pat

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Posted by Chris.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.

Posted on 4/12/2000 3:17 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



My favorite parts:

1. Finally playing in a match with Colleen. It was fun and I wish we got to do it more often. I got to play against her last year but that was different. She's a very nice person, you know.

2. All of our matches with the Huskie Brigade. We had some good alliances and some good fights. We both sustained some damage in the semis at the GLR in our shoving match (their frame got bent, our axles got bent). All of the matches had great spirit to them.

3. Seeding in the top 8 at the Midwest Regional. I knew we would be good at winning matches, but I didn't think a one-ball holder could provide the offense to seed well. Our drivers got very good and we ended up being an excellent offensive team (we could score up to 6 balls a minute at nationals - I never thought I'd see that).

4. Las Guerillas. What a great team and a great story. We got to play with them once at the GLR and once at nationals.

Least Favorite:

1. Starting a match at nationals and seeing our robot not move. This is a long story that I don't need to get into here (communication problem), but that was the longest two minutes of my life.

2. Seeing team 60 get declined so many times. What was up with that?

3. Realizing that had an alliance partner's hanging mechanism not gotten broken (and they lifted themselves when they were attached to the bar in the one match), we would have been the #10 seed (at nationals) and instead we went home early. That is tough to stomach. However, in light of #1 above, I feel I can't complain since we let our partner down even worse in one match. I supposed I should try not to what-if myself to death.

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Posted by Daniel Kimura.

Student on team #469, Oakland County Schools and LTU Las Guerrillas, from Andover High School.

Posted on 4/12/2000 8:15 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Chris on 4/12/2000 3:17 PM MST:



: 4. Las Guerillas. What a great team and a great story. We got to play with them once at the GLR and once at nationals.

HEY! SOMEONE REMEMBERS US!!!!!! I must say team 308 was my favorite alliance ever since GLR. Your button was the only one i was wearing before our first match at nationals. Happy we got teamed with you, might have looked silly with that button on otherwise . It was great playing with you guys would have liked to make a run at the finals with ya but i guess the qualification rounds didn't like that idea.

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Posted by colleen.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #246, a FIRST-aholic, from John D. O'Byrant High School/Boston Latin Academy and NSTAR/Boston University/Wentworth Institute of Technology/MassPEP.

Posted on 4/13/2000 12:03 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Chris on 4/12/2000 3:17 PM MST:



awww.. thanks Chris! We were psyched to get in a match with you guys- and it was great one! I never thought we'd get around to playing with you guys but it finally happened - hope it can again next year!! (you tell them all i'm nice! for some reason, some people don't always want to believe me :-P)

as for my fav parts of the comp:

1.) Playing with, against, and hanging with all the great people i talk to during the year (you Chris, Kate, Lora, Anton, Kirsten, Mike, Andy, Joe, Andy (scratch), Aaron, Moe, and all the waaaay too many people i know i'm forgetting)

2.) Being around those people who really understand, grasp, and appreciate the true meaning of FIRST... it was, in all honesty, something that some people around me had a problem with - and it felt good to feel at home with people who understood it once again...

3.) Can't decide between good or bad- but standing on the sidelines as I watched my old team Gael Force, partnered with 131 and 102, go for and come greatly close to the gold.. it's been 4yrs since I ever had to sit back and just watch a match and not be behind the controls or coaching.. it was hard- but it put things in perspective in a lot of respects.. congrats to that crew- you guys are still an unstoppable alliance despite what color your medals are..

4.) Knowing there's less than 300 days til next kick off..

Look forward to seeing everyone at the summer competitions, at kick-off, and in the 2001 games.. keep in touch..

colleen

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Posted by BJ.

Student on team #469, Las Guerrillas, from Oakland County Robotics and LTU, Nachi and Kuka Robotics, and Magna SS.

Posted on 4/13/2000 2:39 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Chris on 4/12/2000 3:17 PM MST:




Like Dan said, there's nothing like knowing you have been recognized, and, as a team, Las Guerrillas really appreciate the acknowledgement. Do you guys, by any chance have an engineer named Steve? There was this guy that helped us out a couple of years ago. At nationals, as part of team 163 (also sponsored by TRW), he helped us break into our tool box after our engineers ditched us in the middle of the afternoon. I know I saw him at nationals this year, but I don't know if he was a part of your team. I am sure he was a TRW employee though, and he was working with Farmington Hills Harrison, at the time. RIng any bells? Let me know! Thanks again for the kind words, just know you guys were on our list in the unlikely event we had had the chance to pick. Those were some great times! Thanks again!

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Posted by Chris.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.

Posted on 4/14/2000 5:53 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by BJ on 4/13/2000 2:39 PM MST:



:
: Like Dan said, there's nothing like knowing you have been recognized, and, as a team, Las Guerrillas really appreciate the acknowledgement. Do you guys, by any chance have an engineer named Steve? There was this guy that helped us out a couple of years ago. At nationals, as part of team 163 (also sponsored by TRW), he helped us break into our tool box after our engineers ditched us in the middle of the afternoon. I know I saw him at nationals this year, but I don't know if he was a part of your team. I am sure he was a TRW employee though, and he was working with Farmington Hills Harrison, at the time. RIng any bells? Let me know! Thanks again for the kind words, just know you guys were on our list in the unlikely event we had had the chance to pick. Those were some great times! Thanks again!

Yes. His name is Steve Sexton and he's a very nice guy.

Side info: We used to be with Farmington Hills Harrison High School and we were team 162 (you were amazingly close with 163). We changed schoold to Walled Lake schools last year and were 'rookies' again (hence the 308 number now).

Hope to see you guys at one of the unofficial events.

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Posted by Ken Patton.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 4/13/2000 8:49 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Chris on 4/12/2000 3:17 PM MST:




I thought our matches were a blast too. We knew that you guys would hang EVERY time. When you went 'D' on us in Ypsi, I was totally nervous, since our drivers did not really have much practice being shadowed. I actually told Brandon to take a full speed run at you as a way of trying to break free!

)
see you soon maybe,
Ken

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Posted by Tom S..

Student on team #177, The Bobcats, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells & ONSI.

Posted on 4/12/2000 3:28 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



Definitely my favorite part was in Hartford, We were allied with team 237 - The entire match was spent fighting it out with the other two alliance partners, I think it ended up that we had both of our bots hanging (not sure) and the ending score was 25 - 21 (we won, pretty sure about the score)... But the entire round was series of defensive moves by both teams that resulted in a very good qualifying score for our alliance.

Our teams spent the rest of the competition chearing for each other, and at the party on friday night, they ended up gathering outside of our bus while we left. it was just a great experience to be cheering with and for their team. Great Job 237!!!

Tom Schindler
Team #177

: You know how after a good movie you always recall your favorite part of that movie?

: Well I was just wondering what anyone's favorite part of the compeititon was.

: I am very bored, and I was very interested in these stories. I hope one day to write a great big book on my expereinces with FIRST and I am currently collecting these stories. If you could post one relating to your team and one of the nationals overall, and one of your favorite moment throughout the season. Ill share mine if you share yours
: I'll be here waiting...

: -erin

: p.s. sunblock SPF 30 does not work. i give up.

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 4/12/2000 4:27 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



Oooh...there are too many for me to post here!!

I guess my favorite story with my 'official' team (69) in the Nationals was surviving the RAMBOT onslaught in one of our last matches. If nothing else, we survived smashing, pushing, jabbing on that ramp, and still managed to steal their balls. ;o) I'm going to get a patch on my shirt that says 'I survived the RAMBOTS!'

My favorite story from the team that adopted me, the Bobcats #177, would have to be the invisible dog burial in the Magic Kingdom...I can't say anymore, but you guys understand!! ;o)

As for my favorite moment, I think it would have to be the whole trip. Finally getting to meet all of you from here on Chief Delphi, as well as one of my other favorite haunts, the RAMBOTS chat room, was more than I could have ever asked for. This has easily been my most incredible year in FIRST, and though our bot did not do as well as in the past, I couldn't have had a better time with better people.

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Posted by Tom S..

Student on team #177, The Bobcats, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells & ONSI.

Posted on 4/12/2000 6:47 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Lora Knepper on 4/12/2000 4:27 PM MST:



Ewwww the invisible dog burial... That was an experience. (no comment... Lets just say watch out for flying dogs) ô¿ô

Tom
PS: No dogs or any other animals were harmed by myself, my team or Lora during this process.


: Oooh...there are too many for me to post here!!

: I guess my favorite story with my 'official' team (69) in the Nationals was surviving the RAMBOT onslaught in one of our last matches. If nothing else, we survived smashing, pushing, jabbing on that ramp, and still managed to steal their balls. ;o) I'm going to get a patch on my shirt that says 'I survived the RAMBOTS!'

: My favorite story from the team that adopted me, the Bobcats #177, would have to be the invisible dog burial in the Magic Kingdom...I can't say anymore, but you guys understand!! ;o)

: As for my favorite moment, I think it would have to be the whole trip. Finally getting to meet all of you from here on Chief Delphi, as well as one of my other favorite haunts, the RAMBOTS chat room, was more than I could have ever asked for. This has easily been my most incredible year in FIRST, and though our bot did not do as well as in the past, I couldn't have had a better time with better people.

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Posted by Mike Kulibaba.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.

Posted on 4/12/2000 5:10 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



one part I enjoyed alot was when a teammate of mine and myself got to go out to watch the Great Lakes Regional in Michigan the first weekend of the competition. I've always heard how the Michigan regional was one of the best around cause it was mostly teams from Michigan and a very close surronding area. I go to see the Delphi's and the Gm's and the Motorola's. Just to see these teams in action got me a better understanding of what to expect when my team went to NJ the next weekend.And I did not leave dissapointed. But......

My Most favorite part was and always will be this web page. No where else can over 700 people from 182 teams talk about how much fun they had and what they didn't like and what they liked and how they feel. I know Lori and other people from FIRST look at this site to see what everyone thinks and feels because this is where everyone comes together to be part of one big FIRST family. I want to thank Delphi, The Chief, and everyone who writes and posts their feelings and make this page the success that is it, especially Brandon Martus for making the page what it is today. Thanks everyone

Kuli Team 88 TJ²

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Posted by william swanson.

Coach on team #353, p. o. b. bots, from mattlin middle school.

Posted on 4/12/2000 6:05 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



My favorite part of this experience was watching my students working on the different machines. I invited many of my past students (I teach Middle School) and the ones who accepted were awesome. We had mostly 9th graders, so alot of them had little experience except what they learned from me. Mostly woodworking tools. The female counterpart of our team was the best. These girls worked on all machines and outshone the boys on most of them. We had art majors, techies, and some Science geeks who also did well.
To win a regional with these guys was just super. This is a memory I will never forget. We are doubtful for next year unless some sponsors show up, so this will be a once in a lifetime experience for us. We will be trying hard between now and September to get those sponsors.
Good luck to all.

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Posted by jack.

Student on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..

Posted on 4/12/2000 7:01 PM MST


In Reply to: 'My Favorite Part was.....' posted by Erin on 4/12/2000 11:59 AM MST:



hey erin this is jack from team 126, i just wanted to say my favorite experience from FIRST this year and all of the years is going out and meeting new people. i beleive i had a chance to talk to you alot at the nationals, and its people like you, like Ben from team 131, jason from 102, andy grady from 42, and everybody who takes the time to say hello and good luck that make this competition what it is, not only an educational experience but a chance to better your social life, social skills, and overall gracious professionalism.