State esports finals held at Mount Aloysius

CRESSON, Pa. – Mount Aloysius College’s Cosgrave Student Center was brimming with high school students from across Pennsylvania Sunday as the teenagers used their finely honed skills to take home esports championships for their districts.

“They’re having a blast, and so am I,” Mount esports coach and organizer Sean Steffy said.

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He added that it was exciting to see Cosgrave come alive with the students and families there to support them.

This was the first time the college has hosted the two-day Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association finals. There were 215 players from 36 schools on campus to play Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Locally, Central Cambria, Forest Hills and Westmont Hilltop high schools sent teams to compete against peers from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Altoona, Scranton, Lancaster and beyond.

Although the Division 2 and Division 3 championships were decided Saturday with winners from outside the area, Forest Hills’ Rocket League team made it to the final round against Biglerville High School.

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The matchup was a rematch of last year’s semifinal round, which Forest Hills lost.

Rangers esports coach Ben Grove said history unfortunately repeated itself Sunday.

Grove’s team lost to to their rivals in a 4-2 final, and Biglerville successfully defended its state title in the game.

“Still a good outing,” Grove said.

The matches were close with the final two going into overtime.,

Grove said it was a rough loss but a hard-fought battle for his students.

“This is the furthest we’ve ever made it,” he added. “It’s a big moment for our club and our school.”

Two of Grove’s top players – senior Jadon Staines and freshman Blake Shilcosky – competed against the visiting team.

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Staines’ high school career ended after the finals, but Grove said he was excited for Shilcosky to step up in the fall and become captain of the team.

Shilcosky said he started playing Rocket League during the COVID-19 pandemic and never expected to get to the state finals as a freshman.

He admitted he was somewhat nervous but ready to play.

“I don’t really get psyched out over stuff like this,” Shilcosky said. “I just go with the flow.”

He also was settled by the support of his family, who were in the viewing area watching his games.

Shilcosky’s parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends showed up to cheer him on.

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“Super-proud of all the hard work,” the player’s father, Derek Shilcosky, said.

Luke Williams,an esportscaster who broadcasts as Llama77, said the competition on display was awesome.

He said there were a lot of talented players facing off in the contest and commentating on it has “been a lot of fun.”

The matches were played at the Mountie Esports Arena on the ground floor of Cosgrave, with a viewing area in one of the conference rooms and all-star players facing off in Super Smash Bros. in the cafeteria.

Between games, students played rounds of ping-pong, ate, chatted, took tours of campus and watched others compete.

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Steffy said hosting the two-day event was a special moment for everyone involved and a great showing for esports throughout the region.

Division 1 winners were Biglerville for Rocket League; Lower Moreland High School for Valorant; and South Fayette High School for Overwatch.

Division 2 champions were Elizabethtown Area High School for Overwatch; Bayard Rustin High School for Valorant; and Pine Grove High School for Rocket League.

Division 3 winners were Montgomery Area High School for Rocket League; Wyoming Valley West High School for Valorant; and Pine Grove Area High School for Overwatch.

Garnet Valley High School was the Super Smash Bros. team winner for Division 2. The Division 3 champion for the game was Mountain View High School.

The Division 1 winner for Super Smash Bros. teams was Nazareth Area High School, with players from Penns Manor and Holy Ghost high schools taking the Super Smash Bros. individual titles.