2009 traverse city district

[Wayne TenBrink]

Team 1918 had a great time at TC. We liked the venue, the host city, and we think Lunacy rocks!

Congratulations to 2645, 85, and 247 on a great victory. You were a great alliance.

Thanks to 904 for picking us. You have been a brother to our team since our rookie season. It was only fitting that our first experience in the elimination rounds was with you. We also were honored to be on the field with 2188.

It was soooo close! Three balls in the right place at the right time could have made the difference.

We hope to see everybody at Lansing or the WMR (WMD?).

TC was a new venue, new game, new robot controller, new field control system, new competition schedule, new group of volunteers, etc. I think everybody did a fantastic job, and I hope we get to come back next year. Thanks to all.

[Akash Rastogi]

Woot! Big congrats to team 247 Da Bears. MORT still loves you guys. ^_^ Good luck at your next competition.

[joeweber]

Traverse City was great. We would like to thank team 3115 for asking us to be partners in the finals. The local TV news cast showed a great news broad cast for that event.
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/video.aspx?id=267073
It is wonderful how they showed so much of our robot in the cast(We maybe a little bias).

[maltz1881]

As 1 of the many volunteers ( I was the Pit Admin) I want to thank all of the teams for everything. I had so much fun with all of you! This was a wonderful event esp. for it being the first time. Congrats to BOB and their winning alliance. Every team there did a great job and all should be proud of how well they did and conducted themselves.

Thanks for all the t shirts, hats, buttons, key rings, bubbles, crayons, coloring books and crossword puzzles. Craig and Carol the 2 of you made my job much easier. Tim and Jeremy I had a ton to fun with both of you! I hope to see several of you at Kettering!! Best of luck to everybody!

[BigWhiteYeti]

Huge thanks to all the people who volunteered and worked their butts off to make this regional happen. You were great.
But honestly, FIRST needs more than a high school gymnasium. Compare your experience at Traverse City to, say, Milwaukee if you have been their. The pits were undersized and overcrowded, the practice field had no trailer, the sound system was three feet from the red alliance wall, and the whole thing had the feel of a Lego League competition. FIRST in Michigan forced too many competitions into too small of an area, and low quality events are the result. In my opinion, someone needs to take a hard look at the FiM system next year.

[EricLeifermann]

It might just be me, but did anyone else see that they gave the highest rookie seed award to 2771 instead of 3115. On the FIRST website it says that 3115 was the highest rookie seed, and they were as they were a picker, but they gave the award to 2771.

[maltz1881]

Yes we noticed it to. They were our alliance partner. They deserved that award and I am not sure what happened there.

[GaryVoshol]

3115 got highest rookie seed and rookie inspiration

2771 got rookie all star

[EricLeifermann]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

3115 got highest rookie seed and rookie inspiration

2771 got rookie all star

Nope they def gave 2 awards to 2771 they had to run back from taking their 1st picture to get the 2nd award.

[dtk]

There was a mistake, probably mine, in passing the seeding information to the judges. 3115 was the highest rookie seed and the error was corrected immediately after the awards ceremony.

[EricLeifermann]

Originally Posted by dtk

There was a mistake, probably mine, in passing the seeding information to the judges. 3115 was the highest rookie seed and the error was corrected immediately after the awards ceremony.

Thats good Dan, I'm glad that it was fixed. 2771 had one heck of a robot, but they technically didn't earn that award.

[Corey Oostveen]

Yes 3115 earned and received the Highest rookie seed award.

Its too bad they announced us for it instead of the true winners

But we gladly gave back the reward so it could make its way to its rightful owner!!!


It was a great time at the event I hope everyone had fun there were a lot of great robots and even more great people there!!!

[maltz1881]

Code Red you guys are awesome! I was amazed by your team. I really didn't realize you guys were rookies until somebody told me that you were.

[EricLeifermann]

Originally Posted by maltz1881

Code Red you guys are awesome! I was amazed by your team. I really didn't realize you guys were rookies until somebody told me that you were.

Agreed i didn't know they were a rookie team until they won a rookie award, and we were sitting next to them all weekend...

[Wayne TenBrink]

At the awards ceremony they also announced us (1918) as the captain of the "finalist" alliance. That honor belongs to 904. I went from the nosebleed section down to the table at the end of the ceremony to let them know. The guy said, "That's nothing, we announced the wrong high rookie seed!"

By the way, I was very disappointed with the policy of only letting 7 representatives from each team on the field to accept the awards. I understand the need to keep the schedule moving along, but it would be nice if the entire teams could share those moments.

Is that going to be the policy everywhere this year?

All in all, it was still a great time.