Lakeland University Esports Hosts Successful WIHSEA Fall State Tournament
Lakeland University's Esports program hosted the Wisconsin High School Esports Association (WIHSEA) fall state tournament in early December. This event showcased the gaming prowess of high school students, dividing their focus between the popular titles of Smite and Super Smash Bros.
Approximately 125 students from various high schools participated in the day-long competition. The road to the State Tournament involved a rigorous seven-week regular season, culminating in a two-week playoff where teams vied for qualification.
The Super Smash Bros team competition, as well as 64-player single elimination tournament, took part in the Younger Family Campus Center. Simultaneously, the Smite tournament unfolded and was streamed live from the Esports arena. The Smite competition, a focal point of the day, was broadcasted on the Lakeland Esports Twitch channel. The games were casted by Lakeland Esports students, adding an extra layer of excitement to the virtual battles.
The entire event was coordinated and executed by Lakeland Esports students and staff, who were on campus throughout the day to ensure the smooth progression of the tournament.
The day-long event drew a crowd of over 250 people, comprising participants and their supporters. The well-organized tournament provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Lakeland University and its state-of-the-art facilities. Mike Dahle, president of WIHSEA, was pleased with the event: "I've run 10 LAN events over the years, and this was easily one of the easiest ones. The support from everyone at the college made this a great event for our students, schools and their supporters. A big thank you to the staff, faculty and all those working in the food service area."
