On December 18th, the Silver Creek Esports Team defeated the Washingtonville Wizards in the NY State Mario Kart Finals. In a best of 3 series, the Black Knights swept the Wizards to earn the first Esports state championship in school history!
The 4-player team was led by seniors Ben Layton, Gavin DeFries, and Tyler Januchowski, along with sophomore Brenden Baker. This was their 3rd straight State Finals appearance.
Co-captain Layton was coined MVP by Coach Sadler after he dominated the 2nd set of races. "After a slow start, Ben really started "cooking". He was at the front of the pack for the last 6 races, and was a huge part of the team's success throughout the season."
Layton was very humble when he heard the praises from his coach. "I had no idea I was playing that well. I was so dialed in, I just raced. I really trusted my teammates and their communication, which allowed me to just do my thing. Overall, it feels validating, we aren't a second rate team, we're amongst the best in the country."
Coach Sadler echoed Layton's sentiments, adding, "The team has truly come together this year. Gavin, Tyler, and Ben have been playing together since their Freshman year, and the addition of Brenden has perfectly rounded out this team. Each racer had a role this season and I believe they have perfected their strategies to show they can compete with the best."
With the win, the Black Knights have qualified for the "PlayVS Cup", a national competition that begins in May.
