Esports finds small but mighty base at Kinkaid

Juliet Hopkins

Esports club members smiling at their meeting on March 21.

Cami Culbertson, Staff Writer
March 21, 2023

Every Tuesday and Thursday, a group of students meets in the science wing to polish their Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate skills to compete against other Texas schools. 

This year, the Kinkaid esports team debuted in the PlayVS esports league. In a season lasting eight weeks, the team has been competing every Wednesday for Super Smash Bros. and every Thursday for Mario Kart 8. The maximum number of players for the two games, three players for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and four players for Mario Kart 8, allows each member to participate and ultimately have a say in how the game ends.

The Kinkaid team meets at a teammate’s house to play online tournaments. No in-person tournaments are held currently.

PlayVS currently offers competitions in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Mario Kart 8, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, and Splatoon 3. 

Esports team founder, Juliet Hopkins, said she hopes Kinkaid will participate in the many games PlayVS offers in Texas. Though this would take an installment of a gaming lab on campus, she sees the value in it. 

“Obviously it’s a big investment, but I think the amount of good that esports can provide for people is really powerful,especially high schoolers who are having to deal with the constant pressure of trying to find their way,” Hopkins said. 

Kinkaid esports team members are excited for what’s ahead and hope to qualify for the postseason.   

“At the end of the day, if the esports program is able to help out one or two people every year, then I view it as a massive success,” Hopkins said.