Kelloggsville Teen Wins Inaugural Kent County Cup Esports Tournament
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kent ISD welcomed 50 students from many area high schools for the first ever Kent County Cup, a Super Smash Bros esports tournament on Saturday, April 27 at Kent Career Tech Center. The competition ended with five winners who each received a gaming chair provided by Steelcase, a sponsor for the event. The top prize and championship Kent County Cup belt went to Kelloggsville 12th grade student Kenny “KnLeaf” Nguyen. Additional winners included:
- 2nd - Logan "Advanced Placement" Reimbold, Caledonia High
- 3rd - Connor "Shard" Ryan, Grand Rapids Christian High
- 4th - Alex "BounceKing" Dixon, Grandville High
- 5th - Henry "ExelionSC" Wierenga, Forest Hills Central High
Rylan Vogelzand, an 11th grade student from Forest Hills Northern, won a raffle for a Steelcase gaming chair by filling out a game card and talking to area business and industry representatives at the event. In addition to student participation in the Super Smash Bros tournament, parents and interested community members attended workshops designed to help them better understand the world of esports and how to support the interests and career development of their gaming enthusiasts.
“Esports is a growing, world-wide $200 billion industry. Skills learned through esports apply to media production, health sciences, marketing, HR, event management, and computer development”, said Ryan Graham, Director of Workforce Development for Kent ISD. “Students are earning full ride scholarships as esports athletes on collegiate teams enabling them to earn degrees in many areas of study.”
The Kent County Cup was created by Kent ISD in partnership with Aquinas College Esports, and sponsored by BizStream, West Michigan Tech Talent, Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation, Kent District Library and Steelcase.
Please direct media inquiries to Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist at joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290.
