eSports varsity squad determined at ‘Contest of Champions’ event
Top six players in the 16 player event form the new varsity squad, win prizes, and await their next tournament challenges
Benjamin Velarde and Marcos Juarez face each other in the seminfinal match of the “Contest of Champions,” which determined this year’s varsity eSports team. Velarde came in 2nd, and Perez in 4th.
Colton, CA—Colton’s gamers united on November 30 through December 5 after school in room 503 to vie for video game dominance in the “Contest of Champions.” The stakes: determine the top 6 “Super Smash Brothers” players in the school for placement on the varsity eSports team.
The winners were: 1st place, Juan Perez; 2nd place, Benjamin Velarde; 3rd place, Noah Limon; 4th place, Marcos Juarez; 5th place, Samuel Duran; 6th place, Luis Padilla Vallejo.
In addition to winning varsity team honors, the top 3 players also took home GameStop gift cards, with first place receiving $40, second place receiving $25, and third place receiving $15.
Sixteen video game athletes participated in the “Contest of Champions” event, welcoming new students, like junior Juan Perez to the club. “I wasn’t planning on joining,” he said. “I just went to play with everyone.”
“I enjoyed everyone coming out to the tournament,” said Gaming Club adviser and eSports head coach Alexandra Buskirk. “There were more people from outside the club who could see what we do and are now going to join.”
After a playoff appearance in their first PlayVS league season, the eSports team and Gaming Club look to expand their team and build on their success.
Despite all the intensity of the competition, players were not deterred from enjoying the company of their friends, new and old.
Sophomore Marcos Juarez, the fourth place finisher, said “I play ‘Super Smash Brothers’ a lot with my friends. I just wanted to see how good I was.” As a new club member, he’s excited for the upcoming season.
The top 6 will be divided into teams for two different upcoming tournaments. One will start in January, the other in February. Placement of groups has not been determined yet.
Recently, the CHS Publications Department experienced a major theft as over $20,000 in photography equipment was stolen from our studio over Spring Break. This included all cameras. Any amount you donate will help rebuild our program. Thank you!
Natalie Solis is a senior at Colton High, writes for the Pepper Bough, is in AVID and has membership in the National Honors Society. She also runs for...