2009 Connecticut Regional

[Faith]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

It's always frustrating seeing some of the alliances randomly selected- take matches 57 (178/177/228 vs. 1902/999/2785) and 58 (126/230/176 vs. 1665/2265/1403) for example- look at the disparity between the years the teams on the red alliance vs. the years the teams on the blue alliance have existed.

Our first match was pretty stacked too (match 6, 121/1100/1124 vs. 2168/558/2497), though it didn't have all low numbers. Technically, at this regional, 1100 and 1124 were in the upper half of robot numbers I think.

[Rob]

Wow what an awesome and exciting regional!

Lots of teams on their second events, and many of them made upgrades and improvements on Thursday! We would like to thank Daniel from team 1729 for providing information and advice that helped us create our "fan boost" upgrade. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=76303

Huge congrats to the Chairman's winning Techno Ticks, 236, as well as to the event champions 126, 1155, 1902.

The defense was stifiling, and we were truly lucky to end up in the draft position we did. We owe that to the great support from our partners in the qualifying matches. It was unfortunate that our alliance ran into technical problems in the elimination rounds, but these things happen. We would like to offer huge thanks to 694 and to 173 for giving it everything you folks had, even though things were not going well for our alliance.

Things happen that you simply can't predict. 694 was the top performing team in qualifying, there were an unstoppable force all of Friday and Saturday morning. Your team deserved to be the #1 selection and certainly earned that spot with your dominance.

Even if the technical issues had not reared their ugly head, we were in for some extremely tough semifinal matches against the 126, 1155, 1902 alliance. That group played at the level of an Einstein caliber alliance in earning victory at CT. The finalist alliance of 1100, 175, 743 was a monster as well. There was no room for error in the elimination rounds.

If only there had been more seating so more spectators could join in the spectacle that was the CT regional this year!

Can't wait to see everyone in Atlanta!

[KathieK]

Did anyone happen to video any of the awards ceremony on Sat afternoon?

[Doug Leppard]

Originally Posted by Rob

Wow what an awesome and exciting regional!

... we were in for some extremely tough semifinal matches against the 126, 1155, 1902 alliance. That group played at the level of an Einstein caliber alliance in earning victory at CT.

Team 121 comments have been extremely gracious and professional. So sorry to not have been there, look forward to meeting you in Atlanta.

[Peter Matteson]

Quotes from our drivers made The Journal Inquierer, one of the local papers.

Also congrats to 121 for their 2nd GM Industrial Design award of the season. Good luck for the Championship award.

Congrats to to 126, 1155, and 1902 on a well earned victory. We'll see you in Atlanta.

[miscall]

Congrats to to 126, 1155, and 1902 on a well earned victory.

Also congrats to the rest of the teams for great performance. I must say that the CT regional is the best one out there robot-wise, and we're pretty good with the Gracious Professionalism as well.

The music played however, leaves much to be desired.

[Tom Schindler]

Originally Posted by miscall

The music played however, leaves much to be desired.

Agreed, they should look into the DJ from BAE, he was playing some awesome selections and took/honored requests.

[kristenliz_28]

Originally Posted by Tom Schindler

Agreed, they should look into the DJ from BAE, he was playing some awesome selections and took/honored requests.

Yeah, I agree, the DJ at BAE was greatt

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Rob

We would like to thank Daniel from team 1726 for providing information and advice that helped us create our "fan boost" upgrade.

It's 1729 not 1726

and your welcome

The best compliment anybody can get is to be copied. You guys in 121 are great and an inspiration to all. Keep up the good work, I'll be pulling for y'all in Atlanta.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

It's 1729 not 1726

Sorry about that, I can't count. That's why I got an MBA...

Although from what I hear 1726 has a pretty sweet machine as well!

[miketwalker]

Wow, this was one amazing weekend plain and simple. In my 8 years this definitely is right near the top of my list of great memories in FIRST, I simply don't know how I could thank all the teams and people that made it such a great event both for 1902 as well as myself but let me give it a shot.

Sabrina and Dez, you made a great team especially in the face of numerous field problems. You both worked very professionally and passionately to try to ensure the amount field problems effected teams was at it's minimal for all of the problems that were thrown your way.

Jessica and Andy Boucher, the two people that inspired me the most initially to get up there and I'm grateful that they did. Andy is an amazingly talented announcer and Jessica and her volunteers reminded me of my crew in Florida (something that I don't think I've seen before). You guys made the regional look like a cakewalk, and I know how tough it can be... it just ran so smooth even in the face of numerous "God"-struck mini-crisis.

Mike Sperber - I'm glad we had the chance to meet this weekend. I watched you running around left and right putting on and taking off numerous hats, it was clear you understood the volunteers, event management side, media handling, and the teams. I could directly see the contributions you, Kathie, and your committee put into this event. Such a fantastic job, one regional committee member to another. Be proud of your work.

Jack Kentfield - If I hadn't known you were a first time MC there's no way I would have known. I see great things in your future.

Megan and Ashley from Showready - Megan was with us in Florida and did a fantastic job and she definitely brought her A-game to Connecticut again as well. Even with the large amount of media attention and VIPs in the building the timelines were excellent!

All of the volunteers did such a great job, it was very smooth and with things like the wide pit rows it was wonderful to have minimized traffic congestion in the back. I can imagine the troubles with getting the stands into the convention center financially and logistically and although things were packed in eliminations it was still amazing for the setup.

228 - Each one of you contributed something to 1902, thank you for Wednesday's dinner and for essentially "blending" with 1902 to form one large team for the entire event. I loved the time we had with all of you and look forward to it in the future.

1592 - Although you do not live far from us in Florida, this was the first time I really had a chance to talk with many of you. I'm really glad that finally happened and I see a very bright future between 1592 and 1902, we really loved hanging out with you up there.

126 and 1155 - What an alliance. Wow. I mean, simply, wow. I've sat in many alliance strategy sessions and the way everyone worked as a cohesive unit before ever even putting a robot on the floor together was like watching a well choreographed dance. I'm just glad you let me stick around and work with all of you to help. I am pretty certain this was my favorite time with an alliance for the entire eliminations, and not just because of the win... that was just a nice cherry on top. It was great that on Friday whenever I was on the field taking pictures I would look at the stands and just see all the teams separated in the stands and the little patches of color and then you see 126/228/1902 all just totally blended together in this orange, white, and green chaotic blob. It was amazing getting to work with you throughout the weekend and then with 1155 in the end.

121 - In many respects I think 1902 and 121 are "brothers from another mother." It's always interesting seeing the way your team approaches things since in many ways we mirror each other in terms of the age of our mentors. Between the "great minds think alike's" staggering similarities in last year's robots and this year getting to play each other it was quite nice. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time watching the 1902/121 tango out there in semifinals. Be proud of your accomplishments. Outside of the event I was really glad to get to hang out with many of you Friday evening for a few hours, you guys really do have some amazingly talented mentors and I hope we will see each other again in elimination matches many more times to come in our teams' futures.

There were so many others, I couldn't list them all. Please know that you all put on such a wonderful show. Between 1991's social, paragon's constant cheering us from the second we got there Thursday morning until the end (even when we were against them in eliminations!), and just everything... it really was great.

Taking photos during the eliminations I was amazed the number of times I had to just stop in the middle of match and as I looked around the bleachers just the amazing amount of teams that were cheering for Bacon. Some did our "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" but I heard many others making up cheers as they went and it sent shivers down my spine in such a great way. I wish I could have gone up to every one of you and thanked you after, because it was very very cool. I don't think I've ever heard such a cohesive group cheering for a team and I was absolutely flattered that you all would be doing that for us. As silly as I feel the "We're all winners" phrase can be, I think it really does fit. I'm really glad to see that all the small relationships that built between 1902 and the other teams over the three days was able to culminate in such an awesome finale. It may have been the 3 teams on the field but it really seemed to feel like everyone could enjoy the victory. 1073/61/571, 121/694/173, 1100/175/743.... you all put on an amazing challenge. Every elimination match had me going "Wow!" I am glad that we had the chance to play each and every one of you and look forward to growing relationships with all of your teams as time goes on.

On behalf of 1902 I'd like to say a big "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" in honor of all of you for bringing us into your home and making us feel like 'pigs in a blanket.'

[kristafer]

Originally Posted by miketwalker

1592 - Although you do not live far from us in Florida, this was the first time I really had a chance to talk with many of you. I'm really glad that finally happened and I see a very bright future between 1592 and 1902, we really loved hanging out with you up there.

We enjoyed hanging out with everyone who was able to make it to Connecticut and on behalf of the team I would like to say congratulations on your win and that we hope to be seeing more of your team in the future. Also I would like to apologize for our facility advisor's sudden urge to do your chant "oink oink boom" in the airport. She was so excited that she forgot where she was.

Originally Posted by miketwalker

Taking photos during the eliminations I was amazed the number of times I had to just stop in the middle of match and as I looked around the bleachers just the amazing amount of teams that were cheering for Bacon. Some did our "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" but I heard many others making up cheers as they went and it sent shivers down my spine in such a great way. I wish I could have gone up to every one of you and thanked you after, because it was very very cool. I don't think I've ever heard such a cohesive group cheering for a team and I was absolutely flattered that you all would be doing that for us.

After we were kicked out of the eliminations I thought that the most gracious thing to do would be to invite your team to sit up in the stands with us and we would help them cheer. I think that was the best idea I had the whole trip. For the rest of the day both teams seemed to be having more fun and everyone was getting along. I am glad that we were able to share a plane ride to and from Connecticut with you guys and we are hoping for a bus ride with you guys to and from Atlanta. I'm not sure about that. I haven't been able to talk to the facility advisor since the airport. Good luck in Atlanta and just in case we aren't sharing a bus to and from Atlanta we hope your transportation is safe and fun.

Congratulations again to any and all teams that were able to attend.
We are all winners.