Kenny Nguyen Wins Kent County Cup Esports Tournament for Second Time
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Kelloggsville 12th grade student Kenny Nguyen won the Kent County Cup esports tournament for the second year in a row on Saturday, April 19. Nguyen competed with more than 30 students from many area high schools for the second Kent County Cup Super Smash Bros esports tournament at Kent Career Tech Center. The competition ended with four winners who each received a Series 1 gaming chair donated by Steelcase. The top prize and championship Kent County Cup belt went to Kenny “KnLeaf” Nguyen. Additional winners included:
- 2nd – Alberto "Albino” Estrada, 12th grade, Kelloggsville High
- 3rd - Logan "Advance Placement" Reimbold, 12th grade, Lavonia High
- 4th - Henry "ExelionSc" Wierenga, 11th grade, Forest Hills Central High
Zach Kettner, a student at Forest Hills Northern, won a raffle for a fifth Steelcase gaming chair by filling out a game card and talking to area business and industry representatives at the event including Kent District Library and Michigan Council for Women in Technology. Steelcase also donated webcams as prizes and students were able to try “shoutcasting”, the play-by-play broadcast of the tournament play livestream. Livestreaming events and content creation are also career pathways for esports enthusiasts. 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 with guidance from esports consultant Will Wolf. West Michigan Tech Talent sponsored Open Play at the event and the esports team at Grandville High provided Nintendo Switches for the competitors to use on Saturday.
Please direct media inquiries to Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist at joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290.
