2001 Scratch Awards

[Andy Grady]

Ok all,
Now I know I have officially retired, however last year around this time I posted my top 10 teams of 2000. This year it returns in a different form...here ladies and gentleman, are the 2001 Scratch Awards....sorry no certificates or trophys, this is bragging rights only....(Keep in mind that these awards are based only on competitions that I have seen)...

2001 Best Regional Competition Award: New Jersey Regional - Eventhough my team didn't compete in this competition, I was there to witness it and it was the saving grace of this years format. Lots of great teams and the final was absolutely insane....possibly the most exciting final ever!

2001 Best Offseason Competition Award: Mayhem on the Merrimack: In a year of offseason competitions with wacky house rules, Mayhem stayed true to the game. The presentation was awsome and they get bonus points for letting me do play by play =) (p.s. FIRST, I am still available for next years regionals if ya need me...hehe)

2001 Most Fun Robot to Watch Award: Team 467 Compaq and Shrewsbury: Not many teams could go over the bar, this team did and boy was it neat. Watching Shrewsbury reminded me of my childhood years and transformers.

2001 Coolest Trick Award: Goes to team 188: I thought it was cool that my team could do 3 ball squish...but 4 ball squish!!!! Yikes!

2001 Crap! They Are In My Division Award: 71 Beatty and Hammond, c'mon like this was a hard one to figure out. I just remember walking by that divisions pit and watching everyone around be like...man we gotta impress Beatty, maybe they'll pick us!

2001 Total Domination Award: Team 254 (i think) Cheesy Poofs: Have these guys even lost a regional yet? Here's to the longest regional winning streak ever.

2001 Rookie of the Year Award: Team 716, Housitonic...Housitanic...i dunno: I just liked these guys, awsome doorstop ability, under the bar.

2001 Doorstops Rule Award: Tie Team 69 Gillette and Quincy, and Team 111 Wildstang: Team 69 defined the term doorstop (ramp wedge to help balance) at the New England Regional to kick off the year...and Wildstang just...well....look at it!

2001 Trapeze Artist Award: Team 45 Delphi and Kokomo: With the gyro program they had, the could have balanced 2 goals on a high wire with ease.

2001 Ballziest Team of the Year Award: Any team shaped like a truck: I can't remember the team numbers, but I remember how cool they were...if someone remembers who they are please let it be known so they can get credit.

2001 Future Superstar Award: Team 365 MOE: If they aren't already superstars, they will be next year. They have come on strong and are showing no signs of weakness.

And finally...

2001 Scratch Award (My favorite robot): Team 25 Bristol Meyers: All i gotta say is Pole Vault! I absolutely loved watching that thing go over the bar, such an engineering masterpiece. Congrats!

Congrats to all the winners, it was a blast being able to see some of the cool creations this year. Have a good one, and remember...First isn't about awards, or who makes it to nationals, or kickin the crap outa Battlebots...everything that matters in FIRST happens even before you make it to the field