After celebrating their five year anniversary in January, Bulldog Esports made the spring season one to remember.

The Mambas Overwatch team participated in the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation (MOSEF) JV bracket. Their match against Blue Springs High School was featured on the weekly MOSEF broadcast hosted by Boise State University, one of the top collegiate broadcasts in the country.

After eight weeks of regular season play, they fell in the first round of playoffs, but they gained invaluable competitive experience for both their brand-new players and their veterans. In the fall, they will regroup for the MOSEF Championship season.

“I think we’re in a good place as a team,” said Mambas captain Emily Yeo.

The Valorant team practiced regularly and was able to participate in one tournament and a scrimmage. They are looking forward to the spring 2022 season, when Valorant will make its debut as a MOSEF competitive season title.

The Side B Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team had the biggest stories to tell. The middle school crew finished their inaugural season with MOSEF in third place. The JV crew finished fourth in their bracket. The Varsity crew entered the MOSEF state championship crew battle playoffs as the number five seed, and finished in third place.

Side B also had success on the solo side.

Captain Tyler Duncan won a weekly national tournament through the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) the day after the state consolation crew battle, and finished fourth in the MOSEF state solo championship.

William Bingham had a NASEF personal best of second place, and Logan Finch had a fourth place finish. Bulldog Esports President Aiden Bingham, Logan Blackburn, and Landen Wilson all had multiple top ten performances, as well.

For the middle school, Brandon Duncan took second place in the MOSEF state championship, with teammate Travis Shramek right behind him in third.

Because the high school teams feature players from several of Hart Career Center’s sending schools, they decided to go with a custom patch instead of a letter for Varsity players. This year was the first time the patches were awarded, and nine players from Side B and the Epic Gamers (the Rocket League team that competed in the fall) were announced as recipients at the spring awards dinner.

Bulldog Esports will return to competitive practice in July, with the Mambas, the Epic Gamers, and Side B up in the fall season. The Epic Gamers are hoping to add their own middle school team.

In the meantime, the teams are taking their place at Hart Career Center seriously. This fall will see the first esports elective course offered in the computer science department at HCC, with curriculum centered around non-competitive careers in the esports industry.

Area middle schoolers will have their chance to both learn about the esports industry and practice Smash and Rocket League at a day camp in July, with the high school teams there to support them and earn A+ hours.

The camp will be held July 12-16 at HCC, with morning and afternoon sessions available. All students that will be in grades 6-8 for the 2021-22 school year at any HCC sending school district (or private school located in those districts) are eligible to attend.

There is a $10 fee for participants, but scholarships are available. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/BEMSCamp.