Posted by aTm.
Student on team #111, Wildstang, from Wheeling High School and Motorola.
Posted on 9/9/2000 11:50 PM MST
Ask any member of nearly any FIRST team that has closely followed the competitions and the major players for more than a year, and you will most likely receive a similar list of the ‘Veterans.’ I doubt there will be minimal to no argument regarding the following list, to name just a few: Chief Delphi, Juggernauts, Beatty, Huskie Brigade, CHAOS, RAGE, Truck Town Terror, Technokats, HOT team, and the Baxter Bomb Squad. Every year, these teams eagerly anticipate the moment of pure exhilaration when their robots are unveiled to eachother. Just as well the up and coming and other teams feel what can only be described as utter bliss when they are paired with, or defeat, the aforementioned-‘veterans’ ( just for clarification, in most senses I speak of matches in the finals, seeing how I do not recall TOO many seeding matches where the results caused mass hysteria to ensue). However, as a third year member of my local FIRST team, I never think ‘IF Cheif is there next year…’ I always think, ‘WHEN Cheif Delphi shows next year…’ My point being, there are just some things that I as a member of FIRST take for granted, one of those being that the veterans will always be there and always put forth a formidable robot. Alas, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I inform you loyal forumists that next year one of the veterans will be absent. It is my extreme displeasure to inform those that do not know that as of now the Baxter Bomb Squad will not participate in the 2001 FIRST games. Although many may be quick to point out that there are many teams that fail to return the following year, perhaps I am too young to remember such a team as the Baxter Bomb Squad, that encompasses every single minute aspect and detail of what FIRST is all about, a ‘veteran’, being absent from one year to another. I can only imagine the absolute chaos that would envelop, and the extreme disappointment, of not being able to compete against next years Juggernaut robot or Truck Town bot. And it is because of my refusal to believe that such a great team could be absent from FIRST that i beseech you fellow FIRST members, if ANYONE, ANYWHERE has ANY ideas or previous experience with such matters ( from my understanding, Baxter said there was simply not enough manpower to maintain the Bomb Squad this coming year, which is understandable seeing as we all know how much in debt we are to the engineers and teachers that put their time into helping us, those that do receive help from said adults) please let the Bomb Squad know, or the FIRST population assembled here know. FIRST is about competition, but as our past two years more accurately shown, cooperation. It is the sheer disappointment that fills me knowing that I will not be able to watch my teams robot go against the Bomb Squad ( or any other veteran for that matter) that drove me to write this essay-of-sorts. It just does not make sense to me that this team who just this past year won, correct me if I’m wrong, 1 regional, was finalist at another, made it to the finals at nationals, won the Chairman’s Award, (proof that FIRST itself feels the Bomb Squad was this year’s epitome of its ideals) and hosted its very own post-nationals competition ( the wonderfully organized Baxter Ozark Mountain Brawl) which they were finalists in, would be absent from future FIRST competitions. I remind you that these were only the superficial achievements of the Bomb Squad, there are also the accomplishments of being mentors to several First Lego League teams, the phenomenal support and interest held by their hometown, Mountain Home Arkansas, and the ever-present team enthusiasm. I, for one, will never forget the ‘BOMB-SQUAD’ chant always greeting their robot after a match when I oftentimes forget my own teams cheer. I also remind you that these are only the events and feats that myself, a member of another team, am aware of, and I’m sure there is a multitude of successes that the team has had that I have no knowledge of.
For those have made it this far through my ‘essay’, I offer what I’ve said here as not a tribute, as a tribute gives the sense that whatever is being paid homage to is dead and gone. I staunchly refuse to accept that the Baxter Bomb Squad will fail to return, and perhaps give us all headaches while strategizing against, in the coming year. Just as I cringe at the thought of never again going against a Chief robot, or being paired with a Technokats creation, or battling it out with a Juggernaut ( and most likely getting effectively pushed around), so do I abhor the thought of never again challenging the mighty Baxter Bomb Squad. Once again, I beg of anyone that has any insight as to what can be done, please share your thoughts. Instead of offering the honorary dues to a Fallen FIRST Giant, I offer this awareness post, and any further action that can be taken on my part. I also offer my best of hopes that I may once again see Team 16, the Baxter Bomb Squad, being a titan of the fields of FIRST.
aTm
