Thank You 254 and 852

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.