IN THE GAME — High School eSport players compete during the WVSEL Fall Finals in the Mountainlair on Friday afternoon. -- Benjamin Powell

MORGANTOWN — For the first time, West Virginia University opened its doors to the state’s top high school esports competitors, hosting the 2025 West Virginia Scholastic Esports League Fall Finals on Friday, inside the Mountainlair.

Teams and individual players from across West Virginia gathered on WVU’s campus to compete for state championships in a wide range of titles, including Marvel Rivals, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, Apex Legends, Brawlhalla, Rainbow Six Siege and Overwatch 2. The event marked a major milestone for WVSEL and WVU’s rapidly growing esports program.

Founded in spring 2024, the WVSEL was created to expand access to organized esports competition for high school students while connecting them to scholarship and career opportunities offered by colleges and universities throughout the region.

Michael Carvelli, marketing strategist for WVU Esports, said hosting the finals aligns directly with the program’s mission of community-building and education.

“Something like this really helps students build a community around them,” Carvelli said. “A lot of kids don’t always find that bond through traditional sports, but esports gives them a team, a shared passion and a place where they belong.”

WVU launched its varsity competitive esports program in October 2021, transitioning from a student-run gaming club into a university-supported program. Since then, the program has grown to include multiple nationally competitive teams and dozens of student-athletes, many of whom receive scholarships.

Alongside competition, WVU offers an Esports Business and Entertainment bachelor’s degree and an esports management minor, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in marketing, broadcasting, event management and content creation.

Carvelli emphasized that Friday’s event was almost entirely run by students.

“This event is operated by our students — from live streaming to production to behind-the-scenes logistics,” he said. “They’re learning how the business of esports works while actually doing it.”

For many of the high school competitors, the tournament was their first opportunity to play in front of a live audience on a college campus.

WVU Rocket League player Cayla Roberts, one of the top female Rocket League players in the world, helped oversee matches throughout the day and interacted directly with visiting students.

“It’s really cool to be able to host these high schoolers and give them an opportunity to see what college esports could look like,” Roberts said. “For a lot of them, it’s their first time playing in front of a crowd, and you can see how excited they are just to compete and have fun as a team.”

Roberts said events like the WVSEL finals help demystify college esports and show students that gaming can extend beyond recreation.

“Hopefully it gives them future careers in esports to think about,” she said. “Even if they don’t play professionally, there are so many roles behind the scenes.”

Carvelli also addressed lingering misconceptions about esports, particularly in Appalachian communities where video games are sometimes viewed negatively.

“We really preach balance,” he said. “Our players practice, but they also work out, meet with sports psychology staff and focus on mental health. It’s not just about being locked into a game — it’s about building healthy habits and carrying that community into real life.”

As esports continues to grow nationally at the K-12 and collegiate levels, WVU officials see events like the WVSEL Fall Finals as an investment in the state’s future.

“This is about showing students there’s a place for them here,” Carvelli said. “Whether that’s as players, creators, business professionals or leaders in the esports industry.”

With its first WVSEL finals now in the books, WVU hopes to continue welcoming young competitors from across West Virginia — and proving that esports has a home in Appalachia.

Representing much of West Virginia’s geography, the competing high schools and their corresponding game titles were:

• Brooke — Brawlhalla; Overwatch 2 (Gold & Green); Rainbow Six Siege; Rocket League

• Buckhannon-Upshur — Apex Legends; Rocket League

• Doddridge County — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Grafton — Rainbow Six Siege

• Greenbrier East — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• Hedgesville — Marvel Rivals; Overwatch 2

• Martinsburg — Apex Legends; Marvel Rivals; Rainbow Six Siege; Rocket League; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• MCTEC — Apex Legends; Rainbow Six Siege

• Nitro — Brawlhalla (Zyxiemx & Payeton Jenkins)

• Ravenswood — Marvel Rivals

• Spring Mills — Marvel Rivals; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

• St. Mary’s — Apex Legends

• Wahama — Rocket League

• Wirt County — Overwatch 2

• Wyoming East — Brawlhalla