After months of steady improvement and high-stakes state-qualifying matches, the Marvel Rivals E-Sports team has secured a spot in the State Tournament as the No. 2 seed. Marvel Rivals is a newly released video game in which players fight in teams of six as some of the most iconic characters from the Marvel franchise. The competition will take place this Saturday, Nov. 22, at Midland University.
“I’m excited to just go to a state tournament,” senior Evan Zhang said. “I’m not really sure what to expect, but I’m hoping I’ll see some better games and some more intense ones.”
The team advanced after defeating Lincoln East in a decisive match on Thursday, Nov. 13, earning the chance to represent Gretna East at the state level. The matchup held significance for returning players who had previous State experience and carried expectations to continue that streak.
“I thought we were going to win the match, but I was a little afraid to lose because I had been to State for the past three years for other games,” senior Quinten Sumners said. “If I didn’t make it this year, I think it would have felt bad for me.”
For other players, the victory felt like a natural continuation of the progress they’d been building throughout the season.
“Honestly, we had played Lincoln East in the preseason, and that match went very smoothly for us, so we weren’t really that worried about last week’s match either, and it pretty much went as we expected,” Zhang said.
Throughout the season, players leaned heavily on communication, trust and shared strategy sessions led by team captain Sumners. Learning how to set the tempo early in matches and adjust with the right counters when opponents shift their strategy helped the group gradually become more coordinated.
“We’ve got some strong players,” Zhang said. “Overall, Quinten does a good job of getting the team into the right rhythm and figuring out how to approach each matchup.”
Improvement was particularly evident in the final stretch of the season. The team’s progress stemmed from collective learning and the ability to adjust together, rather than relying solely on individual play.
“Everyone grew and learned together,” Sumners said. “We were able to listen to each other, which I think was very helpful. We all got a lot better throughout the season.”
As Saturday approaches, the team shifted focus to preparation, reviewing past games, analyzing strategies and studying potential opponents. Although confident, players are aware of the challenges ahead. A potential rematch against No. 1 seed Westside, a consistently strong competitor and the source of the team’s only loss, is one of the main concerns on the players’ minds.
“I think we get a top two placement for sure, but I’m just not sure about that Westside matchup because it could go either way,” Sumners said. “The last time we played them, we just didn’t get enough information out of it.”
Despite the challenges ahead, the team is eager for the opportunity to compete on the State stage. For some, it represents a long-awaited first experience, and for others, a final chance to bring home a title before graduating. For all six players, it’s the culmination of a successful season.