Proviso Press Release

HILLSIDE, Ill. – Three Proviso West High School students recently competed in the Illinois High School Esports Association (IHSEA) State Championship for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, showcasing the growing impact of esports opportunities in Illinois schools.

Senior Andres Garcia, sophomore Julian Palomino and senior Giovanni Jaramillo all represented Proviso West at the state tournament held Sunday, March 8, at Midwest Battle Grounds in Lisle.

Prior to the championship tournament, Garcia was honored during a school-day parade send-off on Friday, March 6. The celebration featured the Proviso West band, performances from the Pantherettes dance team and support from classmates, fellow members of the school’s esports club and club sponsor Luke Dolezal.

Additional Panthers joined Garcia at the state tournament following a strong showing at the IHSEA “Last Chance Qualifier” tournament on Saturday, March 7, also hosted at Midwest Battle Grounds. Palomino earned a third-place finish to secure his spot in the state championship, while Jaramillo placed in the top 10 and later officially qualified when another contestant withdrew from the tournament.

All three students competed in the state championship bracket on Sunday, with Jaramillo and Palomino advancing through multiple rounds before being eliminated in the third round. Garcia advanced further into the competition, finishing among the top 15 players in the tournament.

Overall, Garcia, Palomino and Jaramillo each earned recognition among the top 10% of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate high school competitors in Illinois.

Garcia said his esports journey has been both challenging and rewarding.

“I kind of barely made it into states — I got sixth place and there were only six spots,” Garcia said of his initial qualifying competition. “It was nerve-wracking competing on a college campus because the environment was completely different from a high school, but it pushed me to keep improving.”

He encourages other students who enjoy gaming to explore esports opportunities.

“Just try it out,” Garcia said. “People shouldn’t be afraid to do things they enjoy like gaming. Esports has been really helpful for me and has been a big boost for my mental health.”

Esports club sponsor Luke Dolezal said the students’ achievements highlight both their dedication and the rapid growth of competitive gaming.

“Esports has grown from early tournaments in games like Pac-Man and Tetris into a multimillion-dollar industry that is even broadcast on ESPN,” Dolezal said. “Here at Proviso West, we compete through the Illinois High School Esports Association against schools across the state. Students are not only competing for championships, but also for scholarships and future career pathways connected to the gaming and technology industries.”

Dolezal said Garcia’s performance and the addition of two more state competitors reflects the strength of the school’s esports program.

“These students fought hard to earn their spots at state,” Dolezal said. “Competing at this level means they are among the top players in Illinois, and I’m incredibly proud of the dedication they showed throughout the season.”

Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Superintendent Krish Mohip said esports provides meaningful opportunities for students to develop skills beyond the classroom.

“Our students continue to demonstrate excellence in a wide range of areas, including emerging opportunities like esports,” Mohip said. “Programs like this allow students to build teamwork, strategic thinking and perseverance while pursuing their passions. We are incredibly proud of Andres, Julian and Giovanni for representing Proviso West and District 209 at the state level.”

The IHSEA state championship was held at Midwest Battle Grounds, located at 3000 Warrenville Road in Lisle.