Stagg Esports Team captures two state titles!

District 230 High Schools ESports Teams at Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew recently competed in the statewide 52-school IHSA tournament and captured medals in four categories, including two Stagg State Championships.

There are currently four "official" IHSA games in circulation with five events: Super Smash Brothers Ultimate (Nintendo Switch) Singles, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch), FIFA (PS4) and Rocket League (PC).

• In a neck and neck showdown, Stagg junior Kristian Zajac took 1st place in Singles for the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate competition, with Victor J. Andrew senior Zaid Alqammaz taking second place.

• Stagg also earned 2nd in Crew Battles, a 5v5 contest with Chargers junior Joel Droesch, junior Szymon Kieta, junior Isaac Ling, junior Ousayed Alkhani, freshman Isaac Ferniza, and senior Triston Juarez.

• In Mario Kart 8, the Stagg team of junior Nik Bezanis, senior Cole Wycislak, sophomore Jack Gawel, and senior Paul Cisko took 1st place as well.

• Sandburg senior Faisal Abdulhadi claimed 2nd in the individual FIFA event.

Esports sponsor Jonathan McGreal said, “We're super proud of their performances! Our Charger Esports team is filled with a committed and disciplined roster of gamers who work well as a team together. We really focused on keeping our mental fortitude strong and locked in to the match without thinking too much about the matches ahead. While we have a wide variety of gamers all with different skill sets and talents, we're always raising each other up and supporting one another. And in these games of inches, the little things matter!”

According to the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations, Esports is also known as electronic sports. Esports is a form of competition facilitated through computer gaming. Most commonly, esports takes the form of organized, multiplayer online video game competitions. These competitions often incorporate live broadcasts with commentary and award prize money to competitors. Esports is also one of the fastest growing sports in the world.