On the Sunday after kickoff, Team 188 met up at one of our mentor’s living room. We discussed everything from the impact of human players to the new playing field. We had entered 2009 with a modest goal, but an elusive one for us nevertheless: to win a regional. Not one student or mentor could have ever imagined the ride that Lunacy would take us. From that living room, to Rochester and the site of our first win in five years to the madness at GTR to coming within two late super cells of making it to Einstein, it was Blizzard’s best season ever. However, they were teams from literally all over the map that helped make this, at least for me, one of the greatest weeks of my life.
Team 399 - From a single PM and a couple of videos posted here on ChiefDelphi, an unlikely partnership was formed. All weekend long, both of our teams chatted it up, traded loads of laughs, discussed strategy and swapped scouting data. It was a pleasure to get to discover a lot more about a team that most of us haven’t been familiar with in the past, and an honour to be selected by you guys. The roller-coaster ride that was the eliminations added a good 10 years on everyone (especially poor David who looked like he was going to pass out after every match. Again, our bad :P). It was a blast to play with you guys. Although the ride stopped in the final match of the finals in Curie, the journey will never be forgotten. Thank you.
Team 329 – After witnessing some massive dumps by you guys on Friday, we thought there was no way we would get a team that averaged nearly 10 balls per match as the 4th last pick. Luckily, we did, because we needed every single one of them to extend the finals. It was a blast working you guys and here’s to a successful season to you in 2010.
The Canadian Cheering Section – After we moved on to the finals, I got up to sneak in a quick stretch before the finals kicked in. When I turned around, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Was I back in Toronto taking part in GTR? Nope, this was still Atlanta. Canadian teams from all four divisions came over to Curie to make some noise, Canada-style, and help cheer us on. There are few words to describe that feeling of support and I personally would like to thank every single of you guys and gals for throwing your support behind us.
Team 2185 - When you don’t score much, yet you get picked by an alliance that included 254 and 175, you must be doing something right. You guys were the best defensive bot on Curie and perhaps in FIRST, with two banners to show for it. You guys drove extremely well and played some shutdown D that would make old-school fans stand up and cheer. I’ll admit, I’m still recovering from your KO on us in our second qualifying match, but it was fun having you guys as bus and hotel partners. Good luck guys and we’ll see you in GTR next year!
Teams 175 and 190 – Our gracious pit partners who helped us feel right at home in the pits. It was one of those “You know you’re in Atlanta when…” moments. With 190 and 175 beside us, 217 further down, 254 behind us and 68 just down the pits, it was definitely our “Welcome to the Championships” moment.
Teams 217, 68, and 247 – Sometimes when you lose, you can’t believe how on earth you lost. However, when you give it your all and it’s still not enough, then you just tip our cap and cheer for them on Einstein. Team 217, you guys were the class of the field and with 68 and 247 rounding out the alliance, very few teams can take you guys out. You folks represented Curie with class and skill and gave the Champs a run for their money, not to mention giving every Team 188 member, mentor and alumni around the world a heart attack in the final match on Einstein (Aspirin just won’t cut it.). Thank for helping us discover an extra gear we didn’t know we had (either that, or it didn’t work in the past). P.S. – Our drive team likes their new garments, although the green clashes with the red. 
Team 188 - Lastly, but certainly not least, the force from the North. Who would have thought in that living room that we would face off against an all-Michigan alliance led by 217 for the Curie title? Heck, who would have thought we could win a GM Industrial Design award (if you know anything about our history, industrial wouldn’t be the best word to use ). Words cannot describe the flux of emotions we’ve all felt throughout this year and in years past. Our philosophy of maintaining a strong partnership between students, mentors and alumni has resulted in a team where sustainable success is attainable. With a solid core of alumni, a dedicated group of mentors and a happy-go-lucky bunch that can get the job done, the future is looking dim. Why? Because there are more Blizzards in the forecast. :yikes: