OK, Who's goin' where & why?

FIRST General Forum
1

Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST

Okay, Let’s lay it on the line.

Who is going where & why?

Here is where I am leaning, though this has not been fully discussed with our team so it is just that , a leaning.

Like a number of teams, the Chief Delphi typically goes to 3 regionals. I suspect that that will be the decision in 2001.

Week 1: I have got to go with UTC regional
Pros: Those great New England Teams. I have to admit that last year our entire team was blindsided by how great CHAOS was last year in our matches with them in the Elimination Rounds. We really want to keep an eye on them and many other New England favorites.
Cons: Transportation costs to and from CT

Week 2: As much as I would like to go to the Western Michigan regional, I am leaning toward sending spies only while our team rests up.
Pros: Rest is good.
Cons: Missing out on what will probably be the toughest regional in our area (assuming the best of the Midwest & Great Lakes Regionals do not follow my leanings and decide to attend this regional)

Week 3: The Big Apple gets the nod this week.
Pros: CA & TX are a logistical nightmare (too far away mostly), NJ is a close second, but the newness factor of the NYC competition tips the scale toward a visit to Columbia.
Cons: Transportation costs to & from NY. Newness of regional and competition from NJ may limit the strength of the field. Overall, our team views it as an advantage to get to know & to get known by the strongest teams (hoping improve our team but also to help our team when it is time to pick or be picked).

Week 4: The Great Lakes is the natural choice for us
Pros: The Great Lakes is our home tourney & we are interested in repeating :wink:
Cons: Missing out on 3 other well established & proven tough regionals

So…

… our cards are on the table.

Anybody else have thought they would like to share?

Joe J.

2

Posted by Raul.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 9/12/2000 5:56 AM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Team 111 has already registered for the following:

Week 2: West Michigan
Week 4: Midwest

I wish we had the money and/or support to go to 1 more regional.

Joe,
I am amazed that you are ‘leaning’ towards skipping the West Michigan regional!

Raul

3

Posted by Erin.

Other on team #1, The Juggernauts, from OTC-NE and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 9/12/2000 6:10 AM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Hmmm…

I know I do NOT speak for my team in any form or manner… however a little birdy whispered in my ear…

We normally end up attending only 2 regionals and then a slew of after-season comps (those are good because less school is missed and kids are less tired after them anyways)

So what the litle birdy told me about those two regionals…

Of course we are going to pick Great Lakes upat State, It’s our ‘home’ regional…

Since Western is the weekend right after we are saying no (don’t want to take the students out for too many days in school)…

And we are thinking about giving the nod to either Houston or Cali-Cali… Of course, you know there will be some SERIOUS SERIOUS SERIOUS fund rasing going on (especially for me who has to pay for her own way!!!)

I would say split up the team a bit and send only certain kids to certain regionals and spead yourselves out more (of course meeting beforehand to properly place kids where they wanted to go)… but… I don’t think that would happen.

going to be missing WildStang at Great Lakes…
-erin

4

Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 9/12/2000 6:31 AM MST

In Reply to: Re: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Erin on 9/12/2000 6:10 AM MST:

: Since Western is the weekend right after we are saying no (don’t want to take the students out for too many days in school)…

Not so, not so.

Western Michigan is held Week 2. Great Lakes & Midwest are held Week 4.

If you want to go to Cali-Cali or Houston, knock yourselves out, but the ‘no two weeks in a row’ scam isn’t convincing anyone :wink:

Joe J.

5

Posted by Erin.

Other on team #1, The Juggernauts, from OTC-NE and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 9/12/2000 6:36 AM MST

In Reply to: closer look… posted by Joe Johnson on 9/12/2000 6:31 AM MST:

Joe-

blame it on Justin. I got the info from him!!!

6

Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 9/12/2000 7:38 AM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

This is a tough call for the TechnoKats… we are about 4-5 hours from 3 regionals. Our team is being polled, and we won’t know for another day (hopefully not too late!).

For the first time, we are in a position to look out east… UTC and NASA Langley look attractive.

The decision between the Great Lakes and Motorola Midwest Regionals will be a very difficult. The jury is still out. I wonder what the incentives would be to go to either regional… If we would go the Midwest, would we all get tie-dyed bandannas, or would we toe the corporate line and go to the automotive-rich Great Lakes? Hmmm…

Andy B.

7

Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 9/14/2000 3:46 PM MST

In Reply to: Tough Call posted by Andy Baker on 9/12/2000 7:38 AM MST:

After much discussion, here is where the TechnoKats are going:

West Michigan
Motorola Midwest
Nationals

We almost decided to go to UTC in Hartford or NASA-Langley… but the number of TechnoKats students has doubled, and we couldn’t afford taking them all with us. We’d rather stick together and go to a closer Regional.

We will surely miss all of our friends at the Great Lakes Regional this year.

Andy B.

8

Posted by Jon.

Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Posted on 9/12/2000 12:59 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

We usually attend 2 regionals and nationals… the biggest constraint following distance is the scheduling as the WPI/Mass Academy team runs off the WPI term schedule.

1st regional weekend, is our finals week, so Thursday is the last day of the term. Its quite possible that we may bite the bullet and take that weekend on and work with a skeleton crew for thursday so that we may attend the New England meet… and if CD is gonna be there… could be trouble brewin’ :slight_smile:

a little more likely are NY, VA and MI on weekend 2 as it falls right in our spring break… you never know… Gompei 2001 may decide to go to MI and take on West Michigan…

Weekend 3 is 90% out of the question as we start a new term then and we already tried that strategy last year… didn’t go over so well with the faculty…

Weekend 4, we’ll probably take on Philly Alliance…

and of course, Nationals!

will post when we figure it out.

Jon A.

9

Posted by Jessica Boucher.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.

Posted on 9/12/2000 1:03 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Hi everyone!

Geez, I keep hearing all these plans from the nig-name teams, but I am now addicted to the Forum, so I’m gonna let a squeak out to let people know where lil 'ol #237 is going.

We’re already registered for UTC, and for FL, but our adults have always talked about going to a 2nd regional…soooo…I want 237 to go to NYC.

Do you think it’s a bad idea? Do you guys think it’ll be a reflection of Long Island, which I heard wasn’t that great (or didn’t have a lot of strong teams)?

Thanks for the imput.

-Jess Boucher, student leader #237

10

Posted by Janna.

Student on team #349, The RoBahamas, from International Academy and Ford Motor Company.

Posted on 9/12/2000 8:55 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Jessica Boucher on 9/12/2000 1:03 PM MST:

Hi!

I just found out that our team may be going to NYC instead of one of our other regionals (fingers are crossed!) We flipped things around a bit from our plans from yesterday. I haven’t been to a regional further east than, well, Great Lakes, so I don’t know about past experiences…but hey…our team will be there, so yeah, you should definitely go!

Well, actually, don’t just go to see our lovely Hawaiian shirts of course…but seriously, two regionals is a lot better than one. This last year it helped us as a field team a lot, and we were a lot more confident in Florida than I think we would have been had we only done Great Lakes. You have my vote for your team going to NYC. :slight_smile:

~Janna

11

Posted by Brian .

Student on team #56, Robbe Xtreme, from Bound Brook High School and Ethicon Inc…

Posted on 9/12/2000 1:13 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Well it wasn’t a hard decision for our team due to the fact that we wanted to go to 3 regionals this year and a national, but that plan fell through due to NYC and MAR being in the same weekend. We are definetly going to MAR, Philly, And Nat’s hope to see some people there

Brian

12

Posted by Justin.

Other on team Blue Lightning Alumni Association from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.

Posted on 9/12/2000 5:52 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Well I don’t represent a team right now but…

I will probably make a few road trips from Roger Williams down here in RI all the same. My first choice is definetly the NE regionals. I’ve gone to the NE regionals every year I’ve been in FIRST (Since the 96 season). There’s nothing like the NE regionals. I enjoy all of the things that make it the NE regional, Buzz’s big Astronaut, Enrico Fermi HS (that name has just always stuck in my mind). There’s just certian things that it wouldn’t be FIRST with out, the NE regional is one of those for me. And if CD pays a visit to the east I’d like the chance to see them in action again (Don’t think we won’t be ready Joe :wink: Plus there is the added advantage of it being only 2 hours from RI. I am among the Vets who loved the Gym days of NHC tho, and being a Manchester resident I live for the day when FIRST returns to the city that unleashed it on the world :wink: :wink:

I am also pondering a road trip to PA as it falls during my Spring Break. Anyone have any thoughts on the PA comp?? Worth a 7 hour drive?? (Well course it is, it’s FIRST after all but u know what I mean.)

That’s my 2 cents,

Justin

13

Posted by Brian .

Student on team #56, Robbe Xtreme, from Bound Brook High School and Ethicon Inc…

Posted on 9/12/2000 6:46 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Justin on 9/12/2000 5:52 PM MST:

Philly regional definetly worth a trip

Brian

14

Posted by Jessica Boucher.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.

Posted on 9/13/2000 6:04 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Justin on 9/12/2000 5:52 PM MST:

: Well I don’t represent a team right now but…

: I will probably make a few road trips from Roger Williams down here in RI all the same.

Hey Justin,
You go to Roger Williams? One of 237’s alumnists is a frosh there, Dave Schmaltz. You should look him up, he’s the best CAD guy we had (plus plays some mean drums, but that’s besides the point).

I bet he’d love to come visit some of those competitions, if you need company.

-Jess Boucher, Student Leader #237

15

Posted by colleen.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Coach on team #246, Blue Light Special, from John D. O’Byrant High School/Boston Latin Academy and NSTAR/Boston University/UTC/Raytheon/MassPEP.

Posted on 9/13/2000 7:08 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Justin on 9/12/2000 5:52 PM MST:

Amy,

Word is Philly is one of the top competitions in our vicinity… lots of quality teams attend it and I’ve seen the videos… good stuff… :slight_smile:

16

Posted by Steve Prairie.

Student on team #173, RAGE, from Rockville High School /East Hartford High School and UTRC.

Posted on 9/13/2000 2:28 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Hey Guys,

It looks like RAGE will once again be at the UTC Regional (only 20 minutes away for us), and Florida. We don’t look at going to too many regionals since we are in school at this time.

Chiefdelphi and all those looking east for a great regional are definitley welcome! It’d be great to have more high competitive teams with those that are always here.

Steve Prairie
RAGE 173

17

Posted by Dominique.

Student on team #65, Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 9/13/2000 3:48 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

The Huskie Brigade are looking at 2 regionals and nationals. As of right know we are looking at Great Lakes and NYC. It all depends on how much money we raise and what we all dedcide on. Most team members agree with Great Lakes and NYC.

I will miss the bomb squad.

Motorola I will miss you at Great Lakes

18

Posted by Mike Kulibaba.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Other on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Depuy, a Johnson and Johnson Company.

Posted on 9/13/2000 8:54 PM MST

In Reply to: OK, Who’s goin’ where & why? posted by Joe Johnson on 9/11/2000 9:02 PM MST:

Team 88 TJ² will definately be at the New Jersey Regional like it has been for the last 3 years( I totally love the venue) We also would like to add another regional like UTC in Conn to get our drive team some more practice but time out of school might nix that idea. I, myself, being from Mass. ( half way between Boston and Plymouth, speaking of which I really miss Plymouth North)will be going down to Conn and probably to Virginia to check out the competition at each Venue but if all these great teams are going to New York I might have to change my travel plans. We of course will be down at Disney for an even bigger and better national competition. It’s already shaping out to be a great year. I remember going out to the Great Lakes regional last year to watch that and I was amazed, I’m sure I’ll be just as amazed this year. Good luck to everyone this year.

Kuli Team 88