Special to KRTN Multi-Media
Esports 2022 by Coach Billy Pier
The Raton Rocket League grew tenfold from 2021 to 2022 where Raton had 21 students join and compete in the games that were already on board and compete in new games brought into the mix for 2021-2022 school year.
Our Rocket league teams consisted of Cole Hopper, Tarik Elam, Robert Wick, Luis Herrera, Haley Bacca, Eric Burgos, Jadin Lunn, and Miguel Herrera. This team had a much-improved season compared to the previous season. Raton was able to compete both at a varsity and junior varsity level. The varsity team which consisted of Cole Hopper, Tarik Elam and Robert Wick along with sub-Luis Herrera finished off the season with a 5-6 record sealing them into the 12th seed for the state playoffs.
The next Raton team is our Super Smash Brothers ultimate team. This team consisted of Zeb Medina, Luis Herrera, and Haydin Duran along with subs Owen Kelley and Jerius Acevedo. This new game was added to the NMAA ESPORTS line up and it took us time to get it up and going. The team competed well throughout the season and finished with a 4-7 record allowing them to make the playoffs as a 13th seed.
The Madden team consist of Clayton Kelley (2-4), Cannon Walton (3-8), Chance Middlebrook (7-4), Dylan Quartieri (13-1), and Matthew Quartieri (12-2). This year was a lot different from last year’s Madden Scene. Last year it was a 3v3 match where each student played individual games and the best out of 3 won the match. This year it was all individualized, every player was on their own. The leaders of the pack this year were reigning state champs both Dylan and Matthew Quartieri and Chance Middlebrook. Unfortunately, Raton could only take two players to the state playoffs, with Dylan and Matthew, making the cut and were ranked #1 and #3 in the state. But our luck ran out in the semi-finals where both boys fell short in their matches! Ironically, they would have to play in one final match against each other for 3rd and 4th place, Matthew won!
Raton’s last team ended up bringing us back the gold. Our Mario Kart team consisted of Luisa Herrera (Captain), Anderson Weese, Cayden Walton, and THE John Withers! Other teammates Gabby Sanchez and Owen Kelley also played a huge part in the season. The beginning of the year started with a loss, but the Mario Kart team bounced back and won eight straight. Though the team roster would bounce between players the team was able to solidify it closer to the end of the year. They finished the regular season off with an eight and three record, losing one match on a technicality and the other two to their season rivals Socorro. The team would clinch the 2nd seed heading into the playoffs. With two really good wins they were able to make it to the state championship game against their rival Socorro at the Berna Facio Professional Learning center in Albuquerque. Little did they know they know entering the contest that they would leave Albuquerque as state champions with a 2-0 sweep of Socorro.
