(Secaucus, NJ––June 8, 2022) Led by instructor Mr. Jared Krinsky, High Tech’s eSports team completed a sweep of the competition at the Helix eSports County Championship in May and became state champions in two categories at the Garden State eSports (GSE) competition in June, closing out a record year for the team, announced Ms. Kathy Young, Principal of High Tech High School.
At the Helix eSports County Finals, which took place in late May, High Tech’s gamers took on others from throughout Hudson County in divisional competition for games including Super Smash Bros. Valorant, Overwatch, and Rocket League. Every team from High Tech won their division, taking home a total of five trophies for a sweep of the competition in the second-to-last tournament of the year.
More recently, the High Tech squad battled peers at the state level for the spring edition of the Garden State eSports (GSE) competition. Having previously tasted victory in the winter GSE contest, the HTHS team was hungry to maintain their winning streak. And the teams feasted, with Lucas Velasquez, Eric Rosado, Alan Villalobos, and Dominic DiNardo becoming state champs in Super Smash Bros. Meanwhile, teammates Matthew Loaces, Nima Fallah, Donald Yubeaton, Sean Dong, Rafael Romano and Jason Tu captured the state title in the game League of Legends.
Additionally, at GSE, the HTHS Valorant team—which includes Jacob Ruiz, Yazen Alsarawi, Noah Loaces, Fatima Fardos, Stephanie Marin, Matthew Barrigan and Tyler Leon—placed in the top four in the state. The HTHS Rocket League squad—consisting of Ronan Tierney, Maxwell Tierney, Mace Bell and Derek Hsu—placed in the top eight.
All told, the eSports team has won five trophies, three medals, and a championship belt this year. Of the team’s massive successes, Mr. Krinsky said: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity High Tech administrators and staff have given to me and my team to compete. It is a great privilege and honor.”
High Tech’s eSports team began in 2018, under the tutelage of Mr. Krinsky. eSports are one of the fastest-growing youth organizations, with high schools around the globe creating teams and competing at various levels. Additionally, this year’s team will be part of a story appearing in Sports Illustrated at a later date.
