Shorewood robot "Hank" to play in basketball tournament

Shorewood Hank - basketball playing robot
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

By Wesley Proudlove

Starting this Thursday March 22nd, Team Pronto will be competing in the Seattle Regional Robotic event at Century Link Center (big building between Safeco Field and Century Link Field).

On Thursday Team Pronto will be setting up its pits and getting Hank (that's our robot) inspected and practicing on the field for the first time.

Friday will be the start of the competition. Around 9am Friday will be the first round and then the fun begins. Saturday Hank will still be competing for a place in the final 8 of the event. Starting at 1pm on Saturday the championship rounds will begin.

See the full schedule here. All events are free to the public.

We know that Hank in up to the task so lets all cheer him and our students to victory.

All the robots will be playing 3 on 3 basketball and then will have to balance on a teeter totter with other robots. There will be over 100 teams from all over the world competing to gain a trip to the world championships later in April.

Here's a YouTube video explaining the rules of robot basketball.

Team Pronto Robotics is a student organized club (someday it will be a sport I am sure of that) with just over 40 members who have in six weeks constructed a 5 foot tall basketball-playing robot.

Team Pronto mentors are from Boeing, Microsoft, F5 Networks, UW Robotic Labs, Shoreline School District and UW Students all with an eye on our students' future. These mentors give of their personal time, energy and money to help our students succeed.

For all the bad things that are seen in the media these days please come change your perspective of teenagers and see the great things they can do with a solid direction. 

Hope to see all of you at the event to cheer on Hank and our students.

Look for our new Team Pronto shirts - they are brilliant orange. Come sit in the stands or visit the pits to congratulate our students on a job well done.