Members of the Kirkwood High School (KHS) esports team placed in the Missouri Scholastic esports Federation (MOSEF) state varsity finals for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate singles during an online tournament in early November. KHS senior Charley Crews placed 7th, and junior Carter Monroe placed 17th out of 200 students from some 60 high schools across the state.

Charley and Carter are members of the KHS video gamer club. The gamer club is a casual after-school club sponsored by KHS science teacher Ryan Evans. There are approximately 25 students who participate weekly in the club which has been ongoing for the past decade.

This school year, students shared with Evans that some members of the club wanted to take their gaming to the next level to compete in statewide competitions. Evans approached KHS principal, Dr. Mike Havener, about it. “I shared that there was a core group of students who wanted to game more competitively and talked about expanding it to a team who competes in tournaments as opposed to just for fun after school,” said Evans. Evans and the students were approved to move forward, and some members of the video gamer club transitioned into the KHS esports team. The team has nine varsity members who competed in the fall gaming season playing the game “Super Smash Brothers.” The group practices together as a team once per week.

With the fall session winding down, the team is now planning to compete during the spring gaming season where gamers battle it out in the team-oriented “crew battle” for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate.

Evans created the KHS esports team because students were competing individually and bringing a KHS group of students together provided an opportunity for comradery. “We had some of our high school students competing at local tournaments individually and doing well,” said Evans. “The students were the driving force in trying to make this esports team happen. I am ecstatic to see our students compete well and it should line us up for a competitive team in the spring. The KHS Esports team hopes to expand to other games in the coming seasons." 

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Pictured left to right: Carter Monroe and Charley Crews.