Students from across Louisiana compete in Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart as LASEF launches its first statewide championship event
- Jeffery Harrison
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana esports reached a defining moment this past weekend as the Louisiana Scholastic Esports Federation (LASEF) hosted its first-ever State Championship, bringing together the best student competitors from across the state to compete for history.
Top Louisiana winners from the USAEL Open and champions of regional leagues were invited, creating a true championship field made up of the state’s most proven competitors.
Featuring Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the event showcased elite gameplay, student leadership, and the continued rise of esports as a powerful force in education.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: A Comeback for the Ages
Sixteen of the state’s top Super Smash Bros. players entered a double-elimination bracket, representing schools from across Louisiana.
Early standouts like Kaeden Dunston (Woodlawn High)—a Stomp in the Swamp Champion and EBREL Champion—entered with proven championship pedigree, alongside Marcus Patterson (Woodlawn High), setting the tone for a highly competitive bracket.
But the tournament quickly became a test of resilience.
After an early loss, John Beckman (Woodlawn High) made an incredible run through the losers bracket—fighting his way through high-pressure matches to earn a return to the Grand Finals.
There, he faced Marcus Patterson in an all-Woodlawn showdown.
With momentum on his side, Beckman completed the comeback and secured the championship, becoming the first-ever LASEF Super Smash Bros. Louisiana State Champion.
Final Results – Super Smash Bros.
🥇 John Beckman (Woodlawn High) (7–1)🥈 Marcus Patterson (Woodlawn High) (4–2)🥉 Colby David (Tara High) (3–2)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Dominance on the Track
The Mario Kart bracket delivered fast-paced action, unpredictable moments, and standout performances from across the state.
Top-seeded Adam Tore (Tara High School)—a two-time EBREL Champion and Stomp in the Swamp Champion—entered with championship pedigree and delivered a performance that left no doubt.
From the opening round, Tore showed control and consistency, navigating through the winners bracket with confidence. After taking a single loss, he responded with a dominant run to close out the tournament.
In the finals, he faced Caleb Hebert (Woodlawn High), who battled through a strong field to earn his place in the championship match.
But the day belonged to Tore, who captured the title and made history as the first-ever LASEF Mario Kart Louisiana State Champion.
Final Results – Mario Kart
🥇 Adam Tore (Tara High School) (8–1)🥈 Caleb Hebert (Woodlawn High) (4–2)🥉 Ocean Alcala (Westdale Middle) (3–2)
Representation Across Louisiana
The State Championship featured students from middle schools and high schools across the state, all earning their place through competitive league play.
From experienced high school competitors to rising middle school talent, the event highlighted the depth, diversity, and rapid growth of scholastic esports across Louisiana.
More Than Just Competition
What made this event truly unique wasn’t just the gameplay—it was the students behind the scenes.
The championship experience was powered by students taking on real-world roles, including:
🎥 Live stream production
🎮 Tournament operations and bracket management
📱 Content creation and social media
🎤 Event coordination and support
This is the LASEF model in action—students not just playing, but leading.
Watch the Championship
Catch the full event and highlights here: https://youtu.be/1BFCRCpMm2s
Powered by Partnership
The success of the first LASEF State Championship would not have been possible without the support of our partners.
A special thank you goes to AE Touch Technologies, based out of Morgan City, Louisiana, for their support in helping bring this event to life. Their commitment to innovation, technology, and education continues to create meaningful opportunities for students across the state.
Through partnerships like this, LASEF is able to build experiences that go beyond competition—opening doors into technology, media, and future careers.
Executive Director Statement
“This was a great event, and I’m incredibly proud of our student ambassadors who helped bring it to life,” said the said Jeffery Harrison, Executive Director of LASEF. “What stands out the most is the growth of our federation this year. We’re hearing from schools and organizations across the state who want to be part of what we’re building because they see the impact.”
“One of the biggest differences with LASEF is that we create opportunities for everyone to play. Just like today, we had a very diverse group of players and ambassadors, all coming together to compete, collaborate, and be part of something bigger.”
“LASEF is about more than competition—it’s about workforce development and creating a space where students can come together and showcase their talents. This is just the beginning. Next year will be even bigger, with more online tournaments, expanded game titles, internship opportunities, and plans to take events across the state.”
“We’re making a real impact on students’ lives right now, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Interested in bringing esports to your school or getting involved with LASEF?
Learn more and get started at lasefup.org.
Comments