Ell-Saline eSports Battles Hard in Close Match Against Holton
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe Ell-Saline High School eSports team put up a gritty fight in its second match of the KSHSAA Super Smash Bros. Ultimate season, taking several key rounds off an undefeated Holton roster before ultimately falling 1–3. The loss moves Ell-Saline to 1–1 on the season, but the team showed resilience and real growth throughout the night.
The match opened with senior Braxton Denning, who took the stage with Snake. Denning played two tight, hard-fought games but was edged out in both, giving Holton the early lead.
Next up, sophomore Eli Flores faced Holton’s Ridley player while running King K. Rool. Flores made an immediate impact, handing the Ridley player his first loss of the season in round one. Holton rallied back to take the set, but Flores’ performance set the tone that Ell-Saline wasn’t going quietly.
Senior Porter Bell followed, selecting his main, Bowser, against Holton’s Piranha Plant. Bell delivered a dominant showing, sweeping the set 2–0 and giving Holton its first game loss of the season. His win brought the overall match score to 1–2 and pushed the competition into a crucial fourth set.
For the final round, Holton sent its Ridley player back in, and Ell-Saline answered with Bell for a high-intensity rematch. Both rounds were tight, momentum-shifting battles, but Holton narrowly secured the win to close out the match.
Despite the final score, Ell-Saline walked away with strong highlights, key breakthroughs, and proof that they can go toe-to-toe with top teams in the league. The Cardinals now sit at 1–1 and look ahead with confidence to next week’s matchup.