In the penultimate week of the regular season for Alaska high school esports, Kenai Peninsula teams have started to lock in their playoff spots. The peninsula will be represented by at least one team in all three games this season. Kenai has berths for League of Legends and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, while SoHi leads the state in Rocket League.
League of Legends
Kenai Central swept Lathrop High School, the second-ranked team in the state, 2-0, advancing to 5-2 in the league. By record, in both matches and games, Kenai and Lathrop are tied — 5-2 in matches, 10-4 in games, and so would both be the current second rank in the league.
KCHS League of Legends has earned qualification for the state championship, and will be present in the playoffs starting on Nov. 28.
League of Legends is a team-based fantasy game where two teams of five magical heroes and villains fight to control territory and destroy the enemy team’s base.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Kenai’s Smash team 1 earned two victories this week, sweeping Tri-Valley 2-0 and besting South Anchorage with a score of 2-1. The Kards move to 6-1 and third in the league, behind first-ranked Hutchison High School and runner-up Service High School.
Kenai 1 has also earned qualification for the state championships. Coach Shane Lopez said of both Smash and League of Legends that the teams are focused on their last week of the regular season, hoping to enter the playoffs with the best seeds they can.
Kenai Smash 2 were swept by the second-ranked Service, falling to 4-3 and fifth in the league, but still have a clear path to the playoffs if the Kards can win their Week 8 matchup next week.
Soldotna’s Smash team was swept by Delta Junction Senior High School this week, falling to 2-5 and 19th in the league.
Nikiski swept Sitka High School, putting the Bulldogs at 4-3 and eighth in the league. Nikiski still has a chance to earn state championship qualification. Earlier this year, Nikiski was part of the first Alaska Super Smash Bros. Ultimate State Championship, and tied for third.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a fighting game featuring a roster of licensed characters from other franchises including Mario, Street Fighter and Kingdom Hearts. Players win by knocking their opponents off of the arena.
Rocket League
Kenai Rocket League matches were postponed. The Kards currently sit at 14th in the league with a record of 1-5.
SoHi Rocket League swept White Mountain School and Steller Secondary School this week, landing themselves at the top of the league. The only loss on the Stars’ record is a forfeit from the first week of competition. Across 18 games played, the Stars have won 15. With only one game left ahead of them, the Stars have already qualified for the state championship.
Rocket League is like soccer, if soccer were played with giant jet-propelled cars. The team that puts the ball in the goal the most times wins.
