Esports wins state title

The three-member team includes Auri Tarabishy, Jack Schalk and Sam Donahey.

Upper St. Clair, seeded fifth in the tournament, swept the No. 3 seed Pocono West High School, 3-0 in a best of five series. Previously, the USCHS team defeated the No. 1 ranked Cocalico team in the semifinals on Wednesday, April 23.

According to the team’s adviser, Monica Erwin, all three students played exceptionally well.

“I cannot say enough about the sportsmanship and skill of our players,” Mrs. Erwin said. “They are an amazing group of players that I have had the privilege of coaching over the last few years.”

The USCHS Super Smash Bros. team earned an invitation to the national PlayVS cup to compete against the top 64 teams in the eastern half of the United States. Teams that win state and regional finals are invited to compete. The multi-day, single elimination, online tournament runs from May 19 to June 5.

Members of the USCHS Esports team are also competing for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association (PIEA) Super Smash Bros. team and individual titles. The five-player team of Auri Tarabishy, Jack Schalk, Sam Donahey, Ricky Crawford and Chance Miles must win two more virtual rounds to advance to the in-person finals May 31 and June 1 at Mt. Aloysius College. Auri and Jack will compete in the individual bracket. Sam and Ricky are still in the running to qualify for the individual competition.

In its fifth year, USCHS Esports is building on last year’s success. In 2024, the Super Smash Bros. team reached the state semifinals and in the individual competition, Auri placed second and Jack finished 11th in the state.

All regular season esports competitions are played virtually. The varsity-level semifinals and finals for the PIEA tournament are held in-person.