LAKEWOOD – Colorado has a new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate state champion.

On Thursday at Localhost, George Washington won 6-5 over Douglas County in the championship match to claim its first-ever Esports state title in a matchup between two schools making their state title match debut in the third year as a CHSAA-sanctioned activity.

“It was a really good match,” George Washington head coach Michael Goddard said. “We’ve been trying and we’ve made playoffs every year, but it just hasn’t happened. I think hopefully this should build some interest and we can come back next year.”

Team members for George Washington include Devon Carribine, Caleb Marcotte and Taveon Williams.

George Washington making the finals was little surprise, as the team entered the state as the No. 1 overall seed. However Douglas County, the No. 34 seed, reaching the finals and nearly winning was.

“You never know with a team that’s a lower seed," Goddard said. "You just don’t know what they’re going to do. But they were fantastic. It was a tough competition, but we did it.”

Douglas County's team members include Dean Martinez, Ava Smith and Lucien Addler.

In the semifinals, George Washington won 3-1 over Lakewood and Douglas County won 3-1 over Aurora Central.

In the quarterfinals, George Washington won 3-0 over Rocky Mountain, Lakewood won 3-1 over Grandview, Douglas County won 3-2 over Fort Collins and Aurora Central won 3-1 over Arrupe Jesuit.

In the Round of 16, George Washington won 3-0 over Fossil Ridge, Rocky Mountain won 3-1 over Air Academy, Grandview won 3-1 over Cherry Creek, Lakewood won 3-0 over Highlands Ranch, Douglas County won 3-2 over Abraham Lincoln, Fort Collins won 3-1 over Ponderosa, Aurora Central won 3-1 and Arrupe Jesuit won 3-1 over Prairie View.

Grandview won last year and Rocky Mountain won the first-ever Smash Bros. trophy in 2023.