Congratulations 3138 - Awesome Showing in Pittsburgh!

[Dan 1038]

A pic of the Innovators drive team and machine scoring...

[M. Mellott]

Congratulations to Team 3138 from fellow rookie Team 3193. No question, you earned all your accolaids! Best of luck in Cleveland, and see you there!

[RookieWookiez]

First of all, I would like to thank all of the teams that have helped us out with our rookie year: Team 48, 379 and 1038, we couldn't have gotten as far or done as well as we did without all of what you all have done to help us. I speak for all of team 3138 when I say you all deserve a huge thank you for all of your efforts.

And also, thanks to the other teams that have congradulated us on our winnings in this thread: 1503, 2252, 2614 and especially 1279 for choosing us for the Elimination matches, and if not for our wheels breaking, we were sure we would've been more of a help in that final match, but I still feel that our alliance was solid in itself.

I believe that Pittsburgh was the absolute best spot for us to start out at our Rookie year because it gave us a good solid base with knowing about all of the rules and gameplay of matches, and all the interations with other teams. Everyone on our team that attended had a blast there, and hopefully we'll be making a return there next season. Also the team interactions while matches were going on was awesome, and being the one to help lead the cheers at the Final Elimination matches, my voice was not only full of scratchiness for the night, it was also full of giddy-ness at how everyone reacted to us on our Rookie year.

Also, we have our robot shipped off for our next tournament in Cleveland, and are currently working on ways to improve our robot to make it so we are still a tough competitor there. For all teams going there, I would like to say I will be happy to see you there and to interact with all of the teams again (and maybe work more on my button suit of armor too ). For all of the teams that were at Pittsburgh but aren't going to Cleveland, we wish you luck for the rest of the season, and hope to see you in Atlanta in April!

Once again, thanks to all the teams that have helped us get to where we are today. Thanks again!

-Dane
Marketing Head/Crowd Influencer In-Training

[Dan 1038]

Dane,

I have to say that I really enjoyed working with you guys over the season; from the early Innovators planning session with your team mentors held last spring at a Frickers off I-75, to the robot demo we did in Vandalia last fall to help drum up support for your team, capped off with our Mock Kick Off in December which you guys attended along with four other young teams. Prior to Pittsburgh, I was impressed with the organization and initiative you guys had... That being said, what I observed from your team in Pittsburgh blew my mind! Not only do you "Get it" in a FIRST sense, you were able to build an amazing machine and compete with some of the best teams in FIRST. And, the more important part, is you both understand and exemplify the values of FIRST. Coopetition, check! Gracious Professionalism, check! Team spirit, check!

As anyone in project management will tell you, the concept is the easy part of a project - executing the concept to make it real is the trick. Your team was able to grasp and execute the concepts of FRC; build a team, teach the values, create a business model, get funding, design/build/program a competitive machine, and keep the exuberance flying through the entire process! That, my freind, is exactly what Dean was shooting for when he created FIRST. In my short FIRST career, the only other rookie teams I have seen tackle the challenges of building a competitive team on par with yours have all been direct offshoots of veteran teams with veteran mentors actively involved. You guys proved that is not a requirement, how cool is that?!?

One of your mentors said something to me during the finals while he was helping fix the wheels on your 'bot, he said "They didn't have anything like this listed in the brochure!"... As the sweat was dripping down his brow, I saw the hint of a smile poking behind his mask of determination... He gets it!

I look forward to seeing you guys perform again next week at Buckeye, hopefully we will be as competitive as you guys were last weekend. Enjoy this year, you deserve it!

[Lee Reid 3136]

Congrats to Team 3138!

As a fellow rookie team, we know were you're at, more then you could probably imagine. To start with most obvious, our number is two numbers away from yours, A little spooky. We are currently rank 5th (the highest rookie) at the Virginia Regional and are undefeated. We are likely to win the rookie all star award and go to nationals (if we don't earn the right the normal way).

Anyway congrats! I hope we make to nationals and get to meet you, it would be pretty awesome. Especially, if we get put on the same alliance, just imagine how messed up the announcer will be!

Hope to see you at nationals.