2009 Lone Star Regional

[lynca]

Thanks to 704 and 1421 for being fantastic alliance partners. Our scouting team was stunned when we saw both teams were still available at the 5th seed pick.

I've been getting a few questions about the 2nd match of Finals where the DiscoBots robot did not function properly. The screw terminals for the power connector to the cRio vibrated loose so the wire did not make a solid connection. I would encourage all teams to tighten those screws carefully, thanks to Joe H. from NI for finding this problem!

Lone star had a mix of struggling kit-bots and powerhouse robots. Luckily many of the great teams assisted all of those kit-bots into moving working autonomous robots.

I really enjoyed the George R. Brown Convention Center, it's huge!!!! I could definitely see Championship moving back to Houston in the George R. Brown Convention Center!

[Jixz]

Chaotic Disco Warriors FTW!!!

Ha.. Team 704 had SO much fun this week.. and we can't wait to do it all again at NAT. This regional just had so much energy.. It just made it THAT much better. Thanks to the WHOLE alliance, I think you guys really played with everyone's strengths and pushed through till the end!

[JVN]

I had a GREAT time in Houston. Love the new facility, and I really enjoyed getting to see a lot of our Texas friends again.

Big thank you to Team 418. When I heard you were #1 it brought a big smile to my face. You guys are class acts. Thanks for picking us, it was an honor to work with you again. We had a great time with you, I just wish it could have gone on for a little longer...

Also want to thank Team 1865. You guys were very high on my list, especially after the great qualification match we had together. It was a pleasure working with you. Your entire team played like professionals. When I heard the 418 Alliance Captain call your number I just started chanting "ohhhhhhhh yeah!".

Thanks to 118 for continuing to be great friends. I know I speak for all of 148 when I say "we love the Robonauts." I'm extremely glad we got the chance to play together this weekend, even if it was only for a qualification match. It was fun to hang out with you guys again. We really appreciate your "assistance" with our robot. HA! Hope you enjoyed the "improvements" we made to yours.

Kudos to 34, 57, and 1429. What a great quarter-final series! You guys played awesome and deserved to advance. It was a pleasure playing against you. Hopefully we'll get the opportunity again sometime soon...

Big congratulations to 704, 1421, and 2587. You guys played like Champions and deserved the hard-fought win. I'm especially happy for 704. You guys are great friends, and 148 is extremely proud to see you bring home the big trophy!

Special Congratulations to Tony Bertucci from 418 on the WFFA!
You sir, are the man. It has been a pleasure getting to know you over the past few months (first at Maker Faire, and now in Dallas and Houston.) Coaching along side you and working with you has made it clear to me what a positive role model you are. Thanks for all you do.

I'm very proud of the 148 students and I'm excited for ATL.

-John

PS - It is nice to be a part of FIRST down here in Texas. After 3 seasons I'm starting to realize just how great it really is.

[Taylor_Ratliff]

Originally Posted by lynca

I really enjoyed the George R. Brown Convention Center, it's huge!!!! I could definitely see Championship moving back to Houston in the George R. Brown Convention Center!

I'm personally hoping the Championship event will move to the new Cowboys stadium in Dallas - thats what the rumor is anyway.

[Jixz]

=0

[JaneYoung]

I was taught the Superman dance yesterday and I loved it. The team that taught me was so much fun to work with and very patient. By the end of the day, I was told that I had 'improved and gotten faster'.

I failed to remember the team name or number so if anyone from the team reads this, please fuss at me and tell a little bit about yourselves. You guys were great fun and awesome teachers.

There may be another post in a day or two but I want some time to think about it. So much was going on and so many incredible people and teams made this regional rock - it needs to sift down and settle a bit.

But - I learned the Superman dance. Woohoo!

Congratulations, everyone.

[TLuck234]

Wow. Had a great time at the Lone Star regional. The two 14-hour bus rides was totally worth it! Team 34 had an awesome time in Houston.

Every team there was awesome!! I wanna congratulate Team 418, who sat behind us during the regoinal, for their "Triple Crown". The elimination rounds between our alliance and yall's were amazing.

Congratulations to every team who got an award!! And thanks to our alliance partners!! It was great to have Team 57 The Leopards on our alliance again. We did great.

Hope to see everyone next year

[Meredith Novak]

We got up very early Sat am to leave the "Land of Dial-Up" (my parents') and return home to the "Land of Broadband" so we could see the Lonestar elimination matches. (Robot-driver-Harley with her foot to the floor of the Prius all the way.)

It was very exciting (the drive and the tournament). Congratulations to all the great competitors and award winners. Speaking on behalf of the Bomb Squad, we wish we could have been there.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

Speaking on behalf of the Bomb Squad, we wish we could have been there.

It would have been great to have Bomb Squad there, Meredith! You guys would have loved the new venue and added to the excitement and sometimes deafening roars of the crowd, for sure.

[Doug Adams]

Congratulations to 2587, 704, 1421! You proved to be an unstoppable alliance. I knew the Discobots would be formidable when Andrew first posted their pictures. It was great getting to know the Warriors. What a great looking and solid robot. Chaos, you were tough at Bayou and took it all the way at Lone Star. See you in Atlanta!

Thank you 441 for picking us as your ally. We were honored and excited to play beside you and 2583. Wish we could have made the ride longer. Hats off to 922, 2936 and 2979 for your great teamwork and strategy.

It was great seeing our old friends and making new ones. Thanks to Lucia and all the Lone Star staff and volunteers for such a successful and exciting event. The new venue was excellent. We had a great time and look forward next year!

[Pjohn1959]

[quote=JVN;842402]

Kudos to 34, 57, and 1429. What a great quarter-final series! You guys played awesome and deserved to advance. It was a pleasure playing against you. Hopefully we'll get the opportunity again sometime soon...


-John

Thanks John. After getting an upclose look at 148's robot during inspection, I can honestly say I have never seen such a precisely built machine. The CAD work and planning must have been incredible. You guys definately deserved the G.M. Industrial Design Award.

I can't wait to see you again in Atlanta. This time I would like to be play with you instead of against.

[TubaMorg]

We would like to extend a big thanks to our alliance partners 118 and 1801. We could not have asked for a better alliance! If not for our stuck chain the last match we just may have taken it all!

Big congratulations to 704, 1421, and 2587! You guys did an amazing job!

[AudieMurphy]

Originally Posted by TubaMorg

We would like to extend a big thanks to our alliance partners 118 and 1801. We could not have asked for a better alliance! If not for our stuck chain the last match we just may have taken it all!

Big congratulations to 704, 1421, and 2587! You guys did an amazing job!

Hey, Dan!

Yeah, I really thought we were gonna do it, too. You guys were great, and you had a very strong machine. Well, we gave it all we had.

Gratz to the champs. Our scouts were almost in pain when 2587, 704, and 1421 all hooked up for the finals and told us they would be the team to beat. Gratz on a smart draft and such heads up play throughout.

We also enjoyed being on an alliance with 118 and being part of their thousand man army. It was a great experience, and it gave us a different outlook on quite a few things. Oh, and the BBQ spuds were really good, too!

vic

[roboticWanderor]

Thanks to everyone for their congratulations! This has been the golden year for LASA robotics, taking home more trophies than ever before, and for the first time ever: winning Dallas, going undefeated 1st seed, and winning the WFA and CMA at Houston. It has been such an honor to finally achieve the "triple crown" across the Dallas and Houston regionals.

Special thanks go out to Team 148 for selecting us to take the Dallas regional win, and then partnering again with us at Lone Star. It has been an honor working with the defending world champions across 2 regionals, we learned a lot from you.

Teams at Houston with especially impressive robots included 148, 118, 1801, 704, and 624. Ya'll's robots were amazing. A special congratulations to winners in Houston, those were some exiting matches to watch. The venue was certainly one of the best that Lone Star had been hosted at, wide, open, and accessible. I would have to complain about it being on the 3rd floor of the convention center though...
thanks everyone! I cant wait to see ya'll at Championships!!

[MikeZ]

Originally Posted by lynca

Thanks to 704 and 1421 for being fantastic alliance partners. Our scouting team was stunned when we saw both teams were still available at the 5th seed pick.

Andy

Congratulations to your team as well as your Alliance partners 704 and 1421. It was a hard fought Finals but you all deserved the win and we were happy to have had the chance to compete with you.

2587 has rapidly developed into an excellent team in all aspects and I wish you all continued success.

Hope to see you in Atlanta