Dominance on the Digital Stage: High School and Middle School Esports Bring Home State Titles!

Our high school and middle school esports teams recently returned from the Indiana Esports Network (IEN) State Championships, and the results were nothing short of historic. Competing against roughly 200 school districts and thousands of players across the state, our student-athletes proved that they are among the absolute elite in Indiana. The IEN has a middle school division (IMSEN), a high school division (IHSEN), and a unified division (IUEN).

From undefeated streaks to professional-backed tournament podiums, here is how our gaming programs dominated the state arena this season.

High School: Undefeated Champions and State Runner-Ups

The high school varsity teams faced fierce competition all year, competing across national platforms like PlayVS and our state network, IHSEN.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: The Undefeated Kings

Our Varsity Super Smash Brothers team put on an absolute clinic this year. Facing the best players in the state, they went a perfect 12-0 in IEN conference play to secure the IHSEN Class A State Championship! When combining their multi-league schedules between PlayVS and IEN, the team finished with a jaw-dropping 31-3 overall record. They didn’t just win the state title; they dominated the entire school year.

NBA 2K26: Harrison Phillipy Takes 3rd in the State!

In one of the most high-profile individual events of the season, Harrison Phillipy captured 3rd place overall in the state for NBA 2K26! This prestigious tournament was presented directly by the Indiana Pacers in partnership with IEN. Standing on the state podium in a tournament backed by Indiana's own NBA franchise is an incredible honor and cements Harrison as one of the top virtual basketball players in the region.

Rocket League & Mario Kart: Elite Finishes

Our high schoolers proved they have a need for speed, showcasing incredible communication and mechanical skill in two of the state's most competitive titles:

• Rocket League Varsity: Fought their way through a massive bracket to bring home the Class A/AA State Runner-Up trophy.

• Mario Kart 8: Showed incredible consistency on the track, driving all the way to the State Semifinals.

Next-Level Talent: Cole Brooks Commits to Manchester University!

The success of our program isn't just measured in high school trophies—it’s opening doors for the future. We are incredibly thrilled to announce that varsity team member Cole Brooks has officially committed to Manchester University to play collegiate esports on a scholarship! Manchester University boasts one of the premier collegiate esports programs in the region. Cole's recruitment proves that the hard work, strategic thinking, and hours of practice our students put into esports are translating into real-world, life-changing opportunities. We cannot wait to cheer Cole on as a Manchester Spartan next year!

Unified Esports: Inclusion and Excellence

One of the proudest moments for our athletic department came from our Unified Esports teams. Modeled after the Special Olympics' mission of inclusion, Unified Esports pairs students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to compete as equal teammates.

Our school didn't just participate—we led the state:

• Fall '25 Super Smash Bros: Our Unified team conquered the bracket to become Fall Unified State Champions!

• Spring '26 Rocket League: The momentum carried into the spring, where the team earned the title of Spring Unified State Runner-Up.

Middle School: The Future is Incredibly Bright

If anyone is wondering if this success is a fluke, look no further than our middle school program (IMSEN). Our younger gamers proved that the future of our esports dynasty is in safe hands.

• Rocket League: In a breathtaking tournament run, our middle schoolers out-played every team in the bracket to be crowned IMSEN Spring State Champions!

• Super Smash Bros: Kept the school’s fighting game legacy alive by reaching the Middle School State Semifinals.

• Marvel Rivals: Our newly formed Marvel Rivals squad had an absolute blast this season. They learned the ins and outs of high-level strategy, grew closer as a unit, and are already hyped to make a massive splash in the standings next year!

Celebrating Our Student-Athletes

Esports takes immense dedication, strategy, quick reflexes, and teamwork. We are incredibly proud to honor the students who put in the hours in the practice lab and represented our school with pride.

High School Roster

Congratulations to our Varsity Letter winners (*), our collegiate signee (🎓), and our state podium finisher (🏀)!

• *Aiden Fishback

• *Anneleissa Lujan

• *Austin Middleton

• *Benjamin Hipskind

• *Brysen Sparks

• Carson Amburgey

• *🎓 Cole Brooks (Manchester University Signee)

• Cole Leeka

• Evelyn Ploughe

• Gage Rowe

• *Gavin Grier

• Griffen Palmer

• *🏀 Harrison Phillipy (3rd State NBA 2K26)

• Hendrix Griffith

• *Ian Rowe

• *Jaxon McCollum

• Jerzey Luz

• *Kasey Black

• Leven Indrutz

• *Maddox Mindach

• Noah Baldwin

• *Noah Glen

• *Reed Wiles

• *Riley Durham

• *Sydney Kellogg

• Tannis Barber

• Tobi Fettig

• *William Grier

• *Zeke Byers

Middle School Roster

Shoutout to our Certificate winners (*), celebrating elite middle school achievement!

• *Aiden Young

• *Axel Handing

• *Braylon Honeycutt

• Calan Mcwhirt

• *Callum Townsend

• *Carter Weaver

• Charlie Boone

• *Cove Arnett

• *Dexter Freeman

• *Drake Palmer

• *Emric Hall

• Finn Fairchild

• *Kaleb Hatfield

• *Kody shepherd

• *Parker May

• *Xavier Garrett

Whether they brought home a gold medal, a runner-up trophy, or a college scholarship, every single one of these students represented our community beautifully.

Congratulations to all of our champions on an unforgettable season!