Belfry ESports team wins first state championship

The Pirates Mario Kart Team, dubbed the “Burning Rubber Pirates”, knocked off Shelby County High School in the championship on Wednesday.

In route to the championship Belfry had defeated Frederick Douglass High School in round one, St. Xavier High School in the quarterfinals, and Kentucky Country Day in the semifinals.

The Mario Kart Team is made up of Emily Justice, Kari Stanley, Mike Le, Ilex Grimm, Timothy Blackburn, and Aiden Tester and they are coached by Chris Salyers.

The Pirates also fared well in the Madden NFL 23 Tournament as Timothy Epling II finished one game shy of the state title and claimed a runner-up finish.

In route to the championship game Epling defeated Betsy Layne in the first round, East Jessamine in the quarterfinals, and then knocked off Hart County High School in the semifinals for a berth in the state championship.

This is the third year that Belfry High School has offered the ESports team as one of its extra-curricular activities for students at the school.