Two Savannah schools ‘brawl’ for state esports championship

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Two Savannah high schools are heading to the GHSA State Esports Championships in Cartersville this weekend.

Number-one ranked Sol C. Johnson High and third-ranked Islands High School will compete for the “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” state title as esports continue to gain recognition as a legitimate high school competition.

Johnson High seeks first state title

For Sol C. Johnson High, this marks their first appearance at the Georgia state championship level.

“This is like our first time actually making it to one. So it’s a really big deal and really important to us,” said junior Caleb “Ace” Scruggs.

“It feels very nice to just be #1 in state,” Scruggs said.

Dr. Caledon Smith, Johnson High’s esports coach, said the competition mirrors traditional athletics.

“We’re a competitive sport. We are playing against other high schools,” Smith said. “Teamwork, leadership, problem solving — these are all skills that are true in football, true in soccer, and they’re true here in esports.”

Team members have developed specialized roles and strategies through years of practice.

“For me personally, I like rushdown fighters,” said Elijah “Kirbiga” Felton, a junior. “I do feel warm and I feel welcome to be in a place where I can play games and hang around with friends.”

Vernon “V” Robinson, also a junior, expressed confidence in his team’s chances.

“I believe in myself and my team, so I think we’re going to win. I hope we’re going to win,” Robinson said.

Islands High makes inaugural appearance

Islands High School is also making their first trip to the state championship.

“It’s our first time there, and it’s scary. But I’m happy that I get to skip a little bit of class to go play some video games,” said junior Kendall “Delightful Derek.”

Jonathan Saxon, Islands High’s esports coach and a former competitive “Counter-Strike” player, emphasized the collaborative nature of competitive gaming.

“Each person has their own kind of role on the team,” Saxon said. “They’re constantly working together, constantly talking and strategizing, even in between each individual match.”

The team has been playing together for three years, with some players drawing on childhood experiences with the Smash Bros. franchise.

“When I was really young, me and my dad would play on the Wii. We had [Super Smash Bros.] Brawl. That’s what got me into it,” said Jayden “Cha,” a junior.

Junior Noah “NoahmyBoa” described the strategic elements of competition.

“You’ve just got to learn how to like space, make sure that you throw out moves that keep you at a distance from your opponent rather than constantly running in,” he said.

Growing opportunities in esports

Both coaches noted the expanding opportunities in competitive gaming.

“Colleges are picking this up,” Smith said.

Both SCCPSS coaches highlighted scholarship possibilities that weren’t available during his own competitive gaming experience.

“There are opportunities for scholarships, both in state and out of state. But when I was competing, there weren’t things like that,” Saxon said.

The 2025-2026 GHSA Fall Esports State Championship takes place Dec. 13 at the Bartow County Schools Esports Arena in Cartersville.

Sol C. Johnson’s semifinal match against Peach County will take place at 11 a.m., while Islands will face Northview in the semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Matches can be streamed live on the GHSA website.