We are thrilled to announce that Stauffer Middle School’s Spartan DNA Esports Team has claimed 1st Place at the prestigious City of STEM Esports Middle School Invitational, presented by the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation.
This exciting tournament brought together 32 elite middle school teams from across Los Angeles and Orange Counties in a high-stakes, bracket-style showdown. After advancing through the virtual Play-In rounds, our Spartans surged into the Sweet 16 and competed LIVE at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles—ultimately dominating the field and bringing home the championship trophy.
A HUGE congratulations goes out to our stellar team members: Zack Ziemer, Sebastian Ochoa, Kenzou Bautista, Matthew Miranda, and our dedicated coach, Mr. Michael Martin. Your strategy, teamwork, and poise under pressure were nothing short of inspiring. One of the most memorable moments was hearing the live stream commentators praise your unity and execution—your synergy truly shined on the grand stage.
This remarkable achievement is a shining example of how Downey Unified School District (DUSD) prioritizes STEM education—including the rapidly growing field of Esports and technology—to spark innovation, curiosity, and 21st-century skills in our students. DUSD remains committed to creating career-ready learners by nurturing a love of science, technology, engineering, and math from an early age.
Congratulations again to our Spartan DNA team—you’ve made Stauffer Middle School and all of DUSD incredibly proud!