Thank You 254 and 852

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

I believe you also beat 1280 that year in the finals. As well as a certian masterpiece of a robot built by Cory

Masterpiece? I'd like to forget that thing existed

Thanks to our alliance partners. We played very well together. Our strategy in the finals was executed nearly to perfection. It was a pleasure to play with you both.

It's a shame that the only good way to win in this game is to pin the best robot in the corner for 2 minutes. There's nothing exciting about watching a robot as good as 1280 stuck in a corner surrounded by 3 other robots, all of which spend 1:30 sitting still doing nothing of note.

[GRST]

Thank YOU, 971 and 254. It really was awesome to be playing with you guys again. Talk about a cool coincidence, the same alliance winning in 2004.

Also thank you so much to our opponents- 1280, 192 and 1868. You were a lot of fun to play with, even if the strategy did cause complete stalemates at some points. You all had really cool robots too.

I would also concur on 668. It takes a truly awesome team to win that award, and you were that team. I certainly wish we could do the same someday...

Anyway, see you all soon, whether it be on the field again this year or in future seasons. Awesome matches!

The best thing about SVR was the way the event was run - no bad calls, almost perfect field operation. This is the 10th anniversary of SVR, and one for the books. FIRST is a family, and many teams in the finals have mentors that were students on other first teams. Corey McBride(254) was on 100, Dennis Jenks(668) was a mentor for the Poofs. I am not certain but I believe 254 was 971's mentor team, and I Know 255 mentored 852. The students are now the Jedi Masters.

No hard feelings, just hard play.

It was a special thrill for me to see two alumni from that 1999 season.

Kenny Bargas (255) was the human player in 1999. A former member of a street gang and was attending Foothill Continuation HS in E. San Jose. He became alliance captain of the 2000 national Champion - attended Cal Berkeley on a scholarship as a result - and now is working for the city of San Jose helping disadvantaged kids. He brought by some future roboticists - so the next generation is in the pipeline.

Sarah Garner (254) Was a student on then what was the smallest team in the nation. The poofs started out at Broadway Continuation HS (also in San Jose). Sarah who worked as a NASA intern, is now the mother of 3 other potential robot wranglers

All I am saying to all you other teams, is that SVR is where the real competition is coming from - and it looks like it is going to stay that way.
We got the big MO.

Special thanks to FTA Ken Mitchell, Head Inspector Jim Mori, Field Supervisor Jane, announcer Michael B., Head ref Mark Edleman, and of course MC Mark Leon and a whole bunch of other volunteers who really knew their stuff. Definitely the A-Team.