The Lorain High Esports team competes at the regional tournament at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH.
April 11, 2024 | Lorain High School's Esports team is looking to bring home a state championship in Valorant this weekend in Akron.
The tournament will take place at the University of Akron, and the championship game will be played in the school's esports arena.
The team's head coach, Seth Litman, has high expectations for the weekend.
"We really want to win states," he said. "But if we come up in just second place, they really want the experience of being on the stage."
The Titans will begin the tournament on Saturday with pool play against Centerville, Lima, and former state champion Dublin. Pool play will determine the seedings for the rest of the tournament.
Player rankings are evaluated using the term Elo (abbreviation for Elo rating system), which measures relative skills between players. It evaluates opponents' skill level, rounds won, and other components.
The Titan's roster boasts multiple players in high Elo, and they are confident in their ability to outperform their adversaries.
Each player brings a unique skill set to the table, contributing to the team's overall synergy and effectiveness on the virtual battlefield.
Isaiah Vergara, who goes by the gamer tag Titan Watchmojo, is expecting big things this weekend.
"I hope we win because we have a really good team. We have good players," he said. "I feel like my defense could hold us up too if I play right, which I have been practicing for."
Their sights are set on nothing less than victory, and they aspire to claim the top spot on the grand stage in Akron.
With months of preparation behind them and a fierce competitive spirit guiding their every move, they are ready to leave it all in the digital arena and etch their names in the annals of Ohio esports history. The stage is set, the players are primed, and the journey to Valorant glory awaits.
Pool play begins at 9 a.m. Saturday to noon. Sunday play starts at 11 a.m.