Kenai Central High School esports players participate in a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central High School esports players participate in a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Esports Week 3: Soldotna Rocket League stays perfect

Week three of Alaska high school esports saw Kenai find victories in every sport, while Soldotna’s Rocket League continued a perfect streak.

League of Legends

In the first week of the season, Kenai League of Legends captain Silas Thibodeau said he wasn’t sure the Kardinals would be able to field enough players to compete in League — after landing second best in the state last season — because most players had shifted to Super Smash Bros.

Two forfeits disqualify a team from championship contention, and the Kardinals took one the first week, benefiting from a bye the second. The Kardinals finally made a showing in Summoner’s Rift this week, sweeping seventh-ranked Palmer High School on Tuesday, according to results posted in PlayVS, the host platform for all high school esports in Alaska. Kenai rises to fourth in the league with a 2-1 record.

The Soldotna Stars had a bye.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Kenai fields four teams in Smash, though two, Kenai 2 and Kenai 4, don’t have match results available in PlayVS. Kenai 1 swept fifth-ranked Anchorage Christian Schools on Wednesday, while Kenai 3 was swept by an eighth-ranked Chugiak High School team. Kenai 1 rises to 3-0 and third in the league, while Kenai 3 falls to 2-1 and 6th.

Nikiski had a bye.

SoHi was swept by a 20th-ranked Chugiak High School team and is now 0-3 and 27th in the league.

Rocket League

The Soldotna Stars swept Nenana City School on Thursday, having not lost a game yet. They swept White Mountain School last week, and won by a forfeit in Week 1. Their 3-0 record is good for second in the league, behind Redington High School, which has swept each opponent.

Madden NFL 23

Kenai’s Marcus Wong swept 24th-ranked Davon Bell of Le Grand, California, to rise to 2-1 and second in the Pacific Region. Wong is behind only Junior Pinet of Freedom High School in Oakley, California.

Wong and Pinet have the same match record of 2-1, but Pinet wasn’t swept in his one loss, for a better game record.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Kenai Central took a 2-1 victory over Hawaii’s Henry Perrine Baldwin High School to climb to 2-1 and sixth in the Coastal Region, tied with Kodiak High School.

More in Sports

Kenai Central High School and Nikiski Middle/High School’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate teams stand together for a photo after the first in-person match by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District teams on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. In the back from left to right is Koen Pace, Cody Good, Kage Adkins, Levi Kimbell, Lincoln Kimbell and Taisei Horiyasu. In front is Silas Thibodeau. (Photo provided by Kenai Central Esports)
Peninsula has 1st in-person esports match

Only one week remains for the regular esports season, and local teams… Continue reading

Snow falls on a fog-covered Beluga Lake on Thursday<ins>, March 30, 2023 in Homer, Alaska</ins>. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Out of the Office: Sometimes snow is not so bad

It’s nearly April, and with every two-or-more-day stretch of clear weather, I… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy sophomore Ian McGarry battles for a rebound against Birchwood Christian on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at Cook Inlet Academy just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
CIA’s Ian McGarry gets 1A boys Player of Year

Cook Inlet Academy sophomore Ian McGarry was named the Class 1A boys… Continue reading

The Kenai Central cheerleading team. Back row, left to right: Caitlyn Martin, Sylvia McGraw, Ayla Tallent, Sarah Baisden, Genesis Trevino, Malena Grieme, Maya Montague, Taya Swick and Cali Holmes. Front row, left to right: Ella Romero, Brooklynn Reed and Makenize Harden. (Photo provided)
Kenai cheerleaders win 3rd straight state title

The Kenai Central cheerleading squad won its third straight Division II March… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears goalie Nils Wallstrom celebrates winning a shootout over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Brown Bears sweep Ice Dogs, move into 3rd place

The Kenai River Brown Bears earned a two-game sweep over the Fairbanks… Continue reading

tease
Bears top Dogs, move into 4th place

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 4-3 on… Continue reading

tease
Kenai girls take 4th, Kenai boys take 6th at state

The Kenai Central girls basketball team took fourth place and the Kardinals… Continue reading

Chad Anderson of Kasilof and Allie Ostrander guide Everett Anderson, 3, to the finish line Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Salmon Run Series at Tsalteshi Trails. Getting the free ride on Chad’s shoulders is Ben Anderson, 2. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ostrander, Gemmell make Alaska High School Hall of Fame

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central High School, and Joshua… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School esports players participate in a practice match of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ahead of a scheduled game at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Esports Week 6: Nikiski is 1st local team to earn playoff spot

Each of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s esports teams had a… Continue reading

Most Read