Maryville University Resumes Esports Tournaments
Media by Shyam Punnachalil
Joseph Lee, Class of 2021, competes in the tournament during the first round of the winners bracket on March 10. Lee won his match 2-0, advancing to the next round of the tournament. Lee was happy to hear that Maryville University would be resuming its Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments. “I am excited to have new competition to face and happy to see others enjoy competing in a game that I love,” Lee said.
Luke Dahlgren, sophomore, is new to the competitive Super Smash Bros. Ultimate scene, and he attended his second Maryville University tournament on Feb. 24.
“Every tournament I go to, I get more and more experience,” Dahlgren said.
Dahlgren felt inspired to play competitively when he saw his MHS friends competing in tournaments around the St. Louis area.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryville took a hiatus in hosting Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments. Now, the university has resumed hosting tournaments.
Due to the tournament’s close proximity to Dahlgren’s house, he’s been able to get more experience in the competitive environment.
“I can consistently come here and just play Smash and leave whenever I want,” Dahlgren said.
Dahlgren said that he is excited to go to more tournaments like the one Maryville University hosts in order to become a better player at the game.
I love going to tourneys to meet new people and to just be myself in a way that I really can’t be in other social situations,
— Joseph Lee
“Every tournament I go to, I can come out, saying, ‘Hey, I got better today,’ Dahlgren said. “It’s great to have and I’m able to go to bed feeling happy.”
Joshua Tackett, Head Tournament Organizer of Maryville University’s tournaments, said he makes sure that all tournament matches are running smoothly and that all questions are answered,
“I love seeing people getting together for something they love,” Tackett said. “It’s a good feeling being around people who have the same interests.”
When Tackett used to compete, he found it difficult to attend tournaments because they were too far away from him.
“We’re the hub where tournaments are. We’re in the middle of everything,” Tackett said.
Tackett said that he feels happy when others compete and enjoy the tournaments at Maryville.
“Seeing people come again and again is a good feeling. It’s that drive. We’re all supporting and building that drive for each other,” Tackett said.
Every tournament I go to, I can come out, saying, ‘Hey, I got better today,’
— Luke Dahlgren
Joseph Lee, Class of 2021 and competitor, has been attending tournaments since 2020, and competed at Maryville’s tournaments prior to the hiatus.
“I’m very happy to be able to go back to Maryville,” Lee said. “It was a great beacon for high attendance.”
Lee is hopeful to play in more tournaments and meet new people going forward at future events.
“I love going to tourneys to meet new people and to just be myself in a way that I really can’t be in other social situations,” Lee said.
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Shyam Punnachalil, senior, is an Associate Producer for MHSNews and a Sports Editor The Marquette Messenger. This is Shyam's third year in MHSNews, and...
