SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — This Friday and Saturday, some of the best high school gamers throughout South Dakota will travel to Aberdeen for this year’s state Esports Tournament.
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Last year, Fenworks CEO Kaleb Dschaak helped host what he called a pilot state tournament, but this year will be the first sanctioned state Esports tournament in South Dakota.
“It’s going to be a really excellent event. We’re super excited to partner with South Dakota High School Activities Association, and we’re really excited to kick off the inaugural year,” Dshcaak said.
It accommodates the growing popularity of Esports.
“We’re finally catching up. We’re finally offering what students have been asking us to do for years, and frankly, South Dakota High School Activities is a leader in the nation when it comes to things like this,” Dscaak said.
One of the teams competing is O’Gorman.
“This season, it’s been going really good, actually. We’ve only lost a few games and played a lot better than we thought we would. I’ve gotten better personally. It’s just been a fun time,” senior Rocket League team captain Chris Meyer said.
Every student on the team qualified for the state tournament.
“I think it’ll be exciting for these kids to get a taste of competition in-person. All season, it’s been online playing right from here in this room, but to actually go see competition play against someone right across the room from you and see them, I think that’s really exciting,” O’Gorman head coach Mark DiMaria said.
It’s something they put in long hours for.
“I’ve definitely just been coming in here a lot, practicing, interacting with teammates basically almost every day of the week,” senior Mario Kart team captain Joey Clemens said.
So the team’s hopes are high.
“The hope, the goal is to come home with some trophies and overall, just to play our best,” DiMaria said.
“I want to win a state championship. Bring it home,” Meyer said.
Some of the games O’Gorman will be competing in include Rocket League, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart and even chess.
