The 2025 MHS eSports state champions Landon Francis-Goucher, Tim Gratton, Kyle Gratton and Jacob Sourdiff (left to right).
MILTON — The Milton High School eSports team brought home a state title over the weekend, defeating Champlain Valley Union High School in a nail-biting Super Smash Bros. Ultimate final at the Vermont Principals’ Association State eSports Championship.
The event, held at the Champlain College eSports Arena, featured the top four Vermont teams from the Eastern U.S. region in the popular Nintendo fighting game. Second-seeded Milton knocked out third-seeded Hazen in the semifinals, setting up a championship match against No. 1 seed CVU — a familiar rival.
The championship series was a best-of-five matchup, with the final coming down to a fifth and decisive game. Milton’s Tim Gratton faced off against CVU’s top player, Jacob Grady, in the final round. Gratton secured the victory, clinching the title for Milton.
The championship team included Landon Francis-Goucher, Tim Gratton, Kyle Gratton and Jacob Sourdiff.
“After the match, I spoke to the head coach of Champlain College esports, and he said what impressed him the most about our team was the sportsmanship we had,” MHS eSports coach Ryan Bushey said. “For me as the coach, that is a huge compliment! They did an amazing job.”
eSports, or competitive video gaming, has surged in popularity in recent years, especially among high school and college students. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than 8,600 high schools across the country now offer eSports programs.
The VPA-sanctioned championship highlights the growing legitimacy of eSports alongside traditional school athletics, providing opportunities for teamwork, strategy and college scholarship pathways.