CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Pictured are Marshalltown High School eSports Valorant team members Thaw Soe (Captain), Chau Thai, Ruben Sala Sosa, Blake Russell, Sam Bennett, Lwin Thu, Caleb Mastin, Dante Montgomery, Matthew Perez Lopez and Rafael Ordonez. They are coached by Ranen Spies.

The (Valorant) Bobcats finished the season 6-1 with the only loss coming from Waukee NW in week 6 with a match score of 1-2 (3-13, 13-9, 12-14). At state, which was hosted inside the MCSD Orpheum Welcome Center, the Bobcats entered as the three seed and faced off against Waukee in the opening round. They secured a 2-0 match win — (13-4, 13-3).

In the semifinals, the Bobcats faced Waukee NW (number 2 seed) once again and got revenge, taking down the Wolves 2-1 (12-14, 13-10, 13-7) to reach their first ever state championship appearance.

In the championship game, the Bobcats faced off against returning state champions Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Kennedy had yet to lose a game all the way through the season and into the championship game. Marshalltown won game one in overtime 14-12. CR Kennedy fought back in game two and won in overtime 12-14. In game three CR Kennedy defeated Marshalltown 13-2 sealing the deal and the Bobcats lost 2-1.

“From a director standpoint, I could not be more proud of Coach Spies and the Valorant athletes who achieved a state runner up finish. Throughout Coach Spies ran a well organized season. Students not only got better on a competition level, but growth could be seen on an academic and interpersonal level. Each Valorant player displayed teamwork, communication, and a positive attitude day in and day out,” MHS eSports Program Director Logan Wolf said.