by Deontay Blackwell

April 11, 2024 marked the first ever Electronic Sports (esports) event in Baltimore City Public Schools with Patterson High School competing against Benjamin Franklin High School in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament bracket. Patterson defeated Ben Franklin by a score of 4-1 in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. The team persevered through a bad internet connection to pull out the win.

Mr. Sokolski (or Mr. Ski, as most students call him) is the coach for Patterson High School’s esports team and runs Patterson’s gaming club.

“I think it is an awesome opportunity for students, especially students who may not have other activities that they are interested in. It’s a place where they can get more involved in the school, and competing against other schools, and be part of that school spirit.”

Mr. Ski wanted students to gain a group of friends, have fun together, and especially get good at video games. As esports events have been becoming more popular, students can potentially start a career in gaming by competing in cash cups and being on an esports team. 

Mr. Ski has an Advisory class and after-school club for the gaming club. He has multiple Nintendo Switches and a PlayStation to run games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, all current year Madden, 2K, FC24, Brawhella, and Rocket League. The students who participated in the esports event against Franklin were Jeremy Jones, Rachard Ockimey, Nicholas Callis, Phillip Jones, and myself–Deontay Blackwell.

For the other players, it has been a great experience for them being able to participate in an esports tournament for the first time.

“You don’t know how experienced they are at the game. You don’t know who they play as. It’s only fun when you actually give yourself a challenge.”, said Rachard Ockimey as they all shared how they felt during the tournament. 

This was the first school year that Patterson participated in esports, but it will not be the last.