In its second year, the Greene County High School Esports Team is going back to the postseason tomorrow in Des Moines.

Kyle Kinne is one of the coaches and says the spring season the team competed in the fantasy team-oriented Smite computer video game and is entering the playoffs with a 6-1 record. He recalls the match the students had earlier in the season when they were 3-0 that propelled them to where they are now.

“We went against Urbandale (High School) out of Des Moines (metro) and we’re like, ‘Boy this is it. This is the hard one’ and it wasn’t close. We dominated them, it was really good. I think that was kind of our realization, it cemented that we’re really good. We’re in the hardest division (and) we won the division. We’ve got a great team. Obviously we’re going to play one game at a time but right now I really feel very confident of winning a state championship.”       

Kinne points out the only loss was to Roland-Story who was last year’s state champion. The playoffs take the top eight high schools that have Esports and lumps them altogether for state to be played at the Rec Plex in Des Moines on June 1st. Kinne describes last year when the spring team placed seventh in the playoffs, most everyone returned this year and the growth he has seen in the kids.

“The biggest difference that I see with how we’re sitting right now with this spring is that, not only do we believe that we belong, but the confidence that the kids have like, we’re good, they’ll tell you that. I know some people think that’s cockiness but I love it. I love to see that in the kids’ response and just that pride of, ‘Hey, all this work that we put in, we belong here, and it’s our’s to lose.’”    

The Iowa High School Esports Association Spring Finals first round opponent for Greene County is West Delaware. This is a one-day tournament with over 30 dedicated computers for Esports. Click the link below to find out more information.

https://www.iahsea.org/spring-season/iahsea-spring-finals/spring-day-of-event#h.xqz3jpxjw2dy