Pueblo West Esports team wins State in … Mario Kart

If State champions walk on sunshine, the Pueblo West Esports team is dancing on Rainbow Road.

After hours of practice, and building team camaraderie, the Mario Kart Esports team at Pueblo West took home the state championship recently, defeating defending champs from Rocky Mountain High School. Pueblo West won the match 3-0.

So what does it take to win a state championship in Mario Kart? Aside from avoiding banana peels and blue shells, a lot of gameplay as a team, according to head coach Curtis Dunford.

"What it took was stellar leadership from team captain, Jesse Wardle, participation in multiple leagues to ensure lots of practice and competition, camaraderie and friendship that was developed over years of playing together, and extremely talented, hard-working players that created a deep pool to draw from including Ayres Ritchey, Bradley Johnson, Mason Stanley, Austin Gill, and Alexander Price," he said.

"That is how they are so good. I am so proud of these guys and I cannot wait to see what they do in nationals," said Dunford.

Pueblo West finished runner-up to Rocky Mountain High School at State last year.

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