Coming off consecutive victories at the annual Bellarmine Esports Open and Nelson County High School’s Community Esports Tournament, Trinity High School’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team has added another win to its record.
The annual Trinity vs. St. X Rival Cup was held again March 26. It was a close match, with each team taking games, but in the end, Trinity came out on top with a 3-2 victory. This marks the second consecutive year the Rocks have defeated the Tigers, and the team hopes to carry that momentum into the fast-approaching playoffs and state championship.
The first set was a narrow victory for St. X’s Teddy Yarborough over Trinity’s McAllister. St. X continued its momentum as Kameren Calvin defeated Trinity’s Benjamin Thornton, though both matches were tightly contested.
Tensions were high going into the third set, with Trinity facing elimination due to the best-of-five format. McAllister and Thornton acknowledged their losses but are already considering adjustments for future matches.
Trinity Esports head coach Jack O’Keefe then sent in star player Luke Willingham. Welcomed by an uproar of cheers, Willingham took the stage and secured a decisive win over St. X’s Aaron Herman, putting the Rocks back in contention.
Willingham’s win provided the boost Trinity needed, as Zachary Rasmussen maintained the momentum by defeating Ethan O’Toole. After a close first game, Rasmussen won the second decisively to take his best-of-three set.
The match came down to the final set: Trinity’s Ty Crain vs. St. X’s Noah Meadows. With both teams and spectators on edge, Crain sealed the victory in the closing moments of the second — and final — game.
The event proved to be a nail-biter for both sides. After the final results and acknowledgments to St. X players and coaches, Trinity was crowned back-to-back Rival Cup champions.
Once again, thanks to St. X for its effort and sportsmanship, and best of luck to both teams as they head into playoff season. As fan Lee Willingham said, “We still got work to do.”
Fans looking to watch more Trinity Esports action can tune in on Twitch at Twitch.tv/TrinityEsportsKY. Super Smash Bros. matches are streamed at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, and Rocket League at 5 p.m. Thursdays.
