LAKEWOOD, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain High School’s esports team RMHS Lobos Varsity A made history Friday afternoon by becoming the first-ever spring Esports State Champions in Super Smash Bros. at Localhost. Rocky Mountain, the top-seeded team in the tournament, knocked off Grandview’s second-ranked Super Smash Wolves Black, 2-1, in the title game.
Rocky Mountain’s Oliver Bunnell, Sam Gordon and Maya McCaughan become the first players to win an esports title in Super Smash Bros.
“This experience has been phenomenal,” Gordon said. “I’ve never been to anything like this. I’m really glad I came to Rocky Mountain and have had this opportunity to compete in a game that I admire. I would recommend it to anyone interested in esports.”
Rocky Mountain fell behind early in the first match, with Grandview’s Eliseo Galdamez winning the first two sets of the match. Bunnell, playing as Snake, rebounded though, as he won the next three battles to put the Lobos ahead, 1-0.
“That first set was something else,” Bunnell said. “Something clicked through those last three, though. I just had a feeling of what he was going to do and what to do against it. It feels really good to win the championship. It was so close, so I could not have asked for a better grand final.”
Jonathan Bannoura, the fifth-ranked player in all of Colorado, had a quick response for Grandview, as he won the next three sets to secure the second point and even the match at 1-1.
McCaughan, playing as Simon, stepped in for Rocky Mountain and swept the final three sets to secure the championship for the Lobos.
“Winning this is awesome,” said McCaughan, the first-ever female to win an esports State Championship. “I think anyone can do it, if they just put the effort in on the grind. I like to practice every single day. Sticking to one character has also helped me build the confidence I need to get through these tournaments.”
Rocky Mountain advanced to the finals by defeating their classmates, No. 3 Rocky Mountain Varsity, while Grandview defeated No. 5 Vista Smash Varsity in the semifinals.
Final Result
No. 1 RMHS Lobos Varsity A defeated No. 2 Super Smash Wolves Black
Semifinals Results
No. 1 RMHS Lobos Varsity A defeated No. 3 RMHS Lobos Varsity
No. 2 Super Smash Wolves Black defeated No. 5 VISTA SMASH VARSITY
Quarterfinals Results
No. 1 RMHS Lobos Varsity A defeated. No. 8 Eaglecrest Pro
No. 2 Super Smash Wolves Black defeated No. 26 Fossil Ridge Smash Bros.
No. 3 RMHS Lobos Varsity defeated No. 6 SMT SMASH Bros. 1
No. 5 VISTA SMASH VARSITY defeated No. 13 CHS Smash 1
Round 3 Results
No. 1 RMHS Lobos defeated No. 16 HORNETS SSBU – A
No. 2 Super Smash Wolves Black defeated No. 18 DCHS Varsity Smash
No. 3 RMHS Lobos Varsity defeated No. 19 Pueblo West Smash JV
No. 5 VISTA SMASH VARSITY defeated No. 21 The JFK BOM Squad
No. 6 SMT SMASH Bros. 1 defeated No. 11 Creek Smash 1
No. 8 Eaglecrest Pro defeated No. 24 Varsity Patriot Smash
No. 13 CHS Smash 1 defeated No. 29 Gold Bear Creek Smash
No. 26 Fossil Ridge Smash Bros. defeated No. 10 Bad Decisions