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Esports Shine Bright at PSEL Fall Finals

January 7, 2025

HARRISBURG, PA – Pennsylvania middle and high schools were in the spotlight on Wednesday, December 18, as teams from across the state came together at Harrisburg University’s UPMC Health Sciences Tower to compete for the title of PSEL Fall Champions.

The Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) is an esports initiative led by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). PSEL and Harrisburg University (HU) have a longstanding partnership, with HU hosting the PSEL finals since 2023. Kammas Kersch, Director of PSEL shared, “The Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League has been collaborating with Harrisburg University since our earliest days in the scholastic esports space. By continuing to work together, we have been able to level up our programming to include career readiness events and our face-to-face state championships. Together, we are leading the way for students across the Commonwealth to grow and learn through competitive esports.”

As part of the full-day event, PSEL competitors heard from a career panel featuring partners and guests of PSEL. The panel was hosted by Matt Swan of PSEL and CCIU, and featured Jacob Layton ‘25, a current Esports Management student at HU; Joe McAllister, Education Esports Expert from Insight; Zac Goodman, Esports Consultant at PlayVS; and Tom Screech, Esports Instructor at HU. Each panelist shared their educational background, career advice, and esports expertise with the students and coaches before the competition began in earnest.

Upper St. Clair High School and Cocalico Senior High School battled first in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Cocalico took the first two rounds in the series, but Upper St. Clair managed to snag a win in the third round. In the final round, Cocalico continued their dominance to win the series and become the PSEL Fall 2024 High School Super Smash Brothers Champions.

The Middle School Rocket League finals pitted Lower Macungie Middle School and Twin Valley Middle School against one another. Lower Macungie swept the first round 3-0 but Twin Valley brought it back in the second round, winning 5-2. After a close third round, Lower Macungie took the lead after a 3-2 win in overtime. Lower Macungie continued their winning streak by taking the next two rounds over Twin Valley and being named the PSEL 2024 Fall Middle School Rocket League Champions.

The High School Rocket League tournament was action-packed as Reach Cyber Charter School and Fleetwood Area High School went head-to-head in their championship match. Reach Cyber Charter has made it to all three of the most recent PSEL championships but struggled to secure the championship win this time around. Reach won the first two rounds and then Fleetwood came back to win the next two, tying up the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Reach Cyber Charter decisively won the next two rounds and earned the title of PSEL Fall 2024 High School Rocket League Champions.

The PSEL Fall Finals hosted at Harrisburg University highlighted the incredible scholastic esports community and talent across Pennsylvania. From career and education insights to highly competitive, adrenaline-fueled matchups, the event showcased the bright future of scholastic esports. With strong partnerships and a commitment to growing scholastic esports in PA, PSEL and Harrisburg University remain dedicated to providing students with opportunities to develop their skills, build connections, and explore future career paths in esports and STEM.

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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