From Mario Kart to Smash Bros.: Students compete in Lanark County Esports Championship at Smiths Falls Legion

On April 20, 120 students from nine schools across the region gathered at the Smiths Falls Royal Legion to compete in the Lanark County Esports Championship.

Kids, teachers, parents, and volunteers filled the legion, cheering each other on as students took turns with a Nintendo Switch in hand, competing in Mario Kart, Super Mario, Smash Bros., and Minecraft, hoping to secure the top spot and walk away with a medal.

While some might question the validity of video games as a sport, research shows that involvement in school activities — including esports — provides structured competition, fosters teamwork and communication, enhances digital literacy and strategic skills, and offers inclusive opportunities for student engagement. Esports align with the developmental, academic, and social goals, providing “collaborative learning experiences consistent with the Ontario curriculum across multiple subject areas.”

Scott Renaud, principal of St. Edward Catholic School in Westport and organizer of the Esports Championship, is proud of the connections made among students and staff representing schools from Westport, Elgin, Lombardy, Almonte, Smiths Falls, Brockville and Prescott who attended the event, and looks forward to continuing to grow esports within the school system.

Teacher Isabel Needham and chaplain Sean Shallow, both from St. Mary Catholic High School in Brockville, had only positive things to say about the event, their school’s esports club, the benefits of esports, and the 10 students they brought. With matching T-shirts thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Needham, opportunities to practise in a club with some gaming systems and TVs personally provided by Mr. Shallow, and an impressive player etiquette ensuring they shook the hands of their competitor regardless of the outcome of the game, students under Mrs. Needham and Mr. Shallow’s guidance played with heart and honour.

South Crosby Public School was well represented by a group of students who, although not new to the games, are new to establishing an official esports team at the school. Teacher Ms. Kubisheski beamed with pride as her school was awarded first place in the Mario Kart school team, and Grade 5 student Landry took home first place in Mario Kart for Grades 4-6.

Eight students from St. Mark’s in Prescott competed in the second year of an esports challenge, and their teacher, Miss Rebecca Leonard, reported that, as a group, she and her students love having a chance to meet kids from other schools.

Twenty-one students from Lombardy Public School attended for the first time to compete, and though the school lacks an in-school Nintendo system, teacher Lisa Jones said it was a fun and challenging day for the kids in Grades 4-8.

Mr. Renaud’s home team, St. Edward Catholic School, represented their school well with six students competing. Parent Suzette Kerner enjoyed watching her son and daughter, both playing in the games this year, and laughed when asked if the kids call playing video games at home “working on their homework.”

Perhaps the statement that best captured the true spirit of the event came from Isabella, a Grade 5 student at St. Edward Catholic School, who shared that her favourite part of the event was getting further than she had the last time — a statement everyone can learn from.