Bob Jones Secures 16th E-Sports Title as Five Schools Capture AHSAA State Championships
MONTGOMERY, AL – Five high schools earned state championships at the fifth annual AHSAA E-Sports Fall Championships on Monday. The intense, single-day competition was held at Huntingdon College’s Leo Drum Theatre, with Bob Jones, Columbia, James Clemens, Hoover, and Wenonah high schools emerging as state champions in their respective games.
The event showcased the state’s top talent across five popular gaming titles: Rocket League, Splatoon 3, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Madden NFL. Each final delivered thrilling matchups as teams competed for the coveted blue map trophies.
Bob Jones Claims 16th Title with Rocket League Victory
The day began with the Rocket League division, where Bob Jones High School secured a decisive 4-1 victory over LAMP High School in the best-of-seven final. The win marks the 16th individual E-Sports state title for the Bob Jones Patriots program since competitions began in the fall of 2019.
The championship match started with LAMP gaining an early advantage, winning the first game 2-1. However, the Patriots, led by team captain Max Dunkerley, quickly found their rhythm. They mounted a commanding comeback, winning the next four consecutive games with scores of 5-1, 8-0, 3-2, and 3-2 to clinch the title. The victorious Bob Jones team, coached by Aubree White Bond, also included Rylan Barden and Noah Strain.
LAMP’s team, coached by Jerel Chisholm, featured team captain Caiden Hall alongside Joshua Choi and Oliver Blackburn. Their strong performance earned them a runner-up finish in a competitive bracket.
Columbia Eagles Dominate in Splatoon 3 Finals
Columbia High School of Huntsville captured the Splatoon 3 state championship with a clean 3-0 sweep over Charles Henderson High School. The Eagles, coached by De’Meiko Merriweather, demonstrated superior strategy in the best-of-five series.
The championship roster for Columbia included team captain Jaidon Bailey, Brandon Barber, Seanic Games, and Jeremiah Dale. Their teamwork led to a swift and decisive victory. The Charles Henderson Trojans, coached by Anna Cargile, put up a strong fight. The runner-up team consisted of team captain Jesus Sanchez-Hernandez, Grace King, Noah Lankford, and Kamryn Harris.
James Clemens Jets Race to Mario Kart Championship
The Mario Kart championship delivered a back-and-forth battle, with James Clemens High School ultimately defeating the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) 2-1. The best-of-three racing competition was decided in the final circuit.
Coached by Pamela Paquette, the James Clemens Jets took an early lead by winning the first circuit 131-103. The squad included team captain Courtney Smith, Jameson Hoiland, Sophia Rogers, and Embree Conyers.
ASCTE, coached by Matt Bohon, answered back in the second circuit, winning 121-111 to tie the series. Their team featured Aiden Brisendine, Isabel Schelmbauer, Nicholas Sifuentes, and Alex Davis. With the title on the line, James Clemens pulled ahead in the final six races, winning the third circuit 132-102 to secure the state championship.
Hoover Bucs Sweep Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Hoover High School earned the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate state title with a dominant 3-0 performance against Arab High School. Coached by Hunter Curtis, the Bucs won every individual matchup in the best-of-five finals.
Hoover’s Chase Gayton set the tone by defeating Arab’s Kayden Cantrell 2-0. Kingston Boatman followed with a 2-0 win over Tyler Willis, and Rehan Jiwani sealed the championship by defeating James Drake 2-0. The Arab Knights, coached by Jason Watts, finished as the state runner-up.
Wenonah Dragons Secure First Title in Madden NFL
Wenonah High School celebrated its first-ever E-Sports state title after a narrow 31-28 victory over St. Paul’s Episcopal in the Madden NFL final. The championship came down to a thrilling finish between the two skilled competitors.
Wenonah’s Amari Megginson, playing as the Baltimore Ravens, edged out Kristopher Dotson of St. Paul’s, who played as the Philadelphia Eagles. The victory was a historic moment for the Dragons program, coached by Jeremiah Lee. St. Paul’s was coached by Kelli Etheredge.
FEATURED IMAGE: Bob Jones’ Esports team won the school’s 16th state title since 2019 with Monday’s Rocket League title Shown aboce are Patriots’ coach is Aubrey White Bond, left, and the team players Max Dunkerley, Rylan Barden, and Noah Strain. (AHSAA Photo | David Holtsford)
