For the Tomahawk Leader

TOMAHAWK – The Tomahawk Hatchet eSports club kicked off its second season last week.

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team of Zach Suchomel, Tim Herman, Tamara Stenberg, Elias Repinski, and Elliot O’Connor took on Big Foot High School and was ultimately defeated.

Coach Paula Norman said she was impressed with how much the team has improved in the last few weeks, noting that two eighth graders joined the squad in their first practice the evening before the match and were thrown into competition the following night.

“This team will improve as the season progresses and some of our ‘regulars’ will be back from quarantine,” Norman stated.

The varsity Overwatch team of Jack McGovern, Jacob Anderson, Wyatt Leasure, Dylan Guilluame, Mathew Walbeck and Richard Burke competed against a tough team from Walden High School on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Although the Hatchets took Game 1 in the match, Walden was able to come away with the victory.

“The Hatchets will be tough to defeat in the upcoming weeks as they have been ‘playing the tape’ and analyzing areas of improvement and strengths,” Norman said.

Thursday, Oct. 28 saw the JV Overwatch team of Trey Morrison, Brian Wiesman, and Xander Myrin, as well as eighth graders Bradeyn Jarett, Elias Albrent, and Kenny Turner, face a stout Racine Case team. Despite losing the match, the Hatchets showed steady improvement during the contest, Norman said, adding that as the team continues to practice together going forward, they will become more competitive.

Norman noted that she is excited to expand eSports to eighth graders this year.

“They were invited to their first practice Monday night, and five of the six who practiced Monday night already competed,” the coach said. “The learning and excitement will continue to grow as the season progresses.”

The Smash Bros. team is set to take on New Holstein on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Norman said the eSports club hopes to stream the varsity Overwatch match on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The Hatchets will go up against New School. Visit the club’s YouTube channel at www.bit.ly/3BsZYXh to view streamed matches.

On Thursday, Nov. 4, the JV Overwatch squad will face Wautoma.