Unified Esports: Smoky Hill Wins Inaugural State Championship

LAKEWOOD – For the first time in its history, the Colorado High School Activities Association has crowned a unified esports state champion.

That champion is Smoky Hill.

“It was an amazing day,” Smoky Hill head coach Stephanie Sturm said. “The kids have worked really hard. We practice every week and they are willing to come in at weird hours, even when we don’t have school, to practice. They communicate well within the classroom and even here – calling out blue shells and other powers that are coming their way to prepare each other.

“That communication is huge for them. It was an unbelievable experience and I definitely owe it all up to the kids. They’re the ones who worked hard and put the time in. They’re the ones that kept smiles on my face as they competed. It was an amazing experience and I’m very thankful that I got to be their coach this year.”

At Thursday’s Esports State Championships hosted at Locahost, the Buffaloes – Jrew Blessitt, Gifty Baker, Anthony Cruz, Flynn Latta and Reece Nuwashwon – won 2-0 in a best-of-three Mario Kart match, winning 124-109 and 124-110 to claim the newly sanctioned activity’s inaugural title.

The team from Rangeview – Jeremiah Delgado, Anthony Morales, Malachi Colson, Brayshawn Jones, Kannon Williams and David Hamilton – will go down in history as the activity’s first ever runner-up.

“I’m really, really excited that this is finally a CHSAA-sanctioned sport,” Rangeview coach Kaly Warnari said. “The athletes are so, so excited to be representing their school at this type of level and we’re super happy that CHSAA has made this an opportunity for us.”

Last year, Rangeview and Smoky Hill played at the Esports State Championships in a “showcase” event that provided the groundwork for the official state championship this spring, with Rangeview winning the contest. Of the Colorado teams currently competing this year, they were the highest-ranked teams, earning them the invitation to compete for the first-ever championship on Thursday.

Each team was composed of two athletes and two partners working together in an eight-player race that included four players from the opposing team. Each round consisted of six races.