Micheal Zhang
Jan 27, 2026
The Gaming Club hosted the Super Smash Bros. tournament last weekend, allowing Mercersburg students to compete and connect through their shared love of gaming. Ethan Nguyen ’28 claimed first place, followed by Matthew Orders ’28, and Edwin Cameron ’27.
Building on last year’s success, club leaders felt bringing the event back was a natural choice. Club member Preston Zhang ’27 stated, “We hosted one tournament last year under the guidance of gaming club president William Tutt ’25. So we decided to run it again because it had a good reception last time.”
Organizing the tournament required balancing logistics, equipment setup, and scheduling. Faculty adviser Matt Maurer noted that the students had to navigate various challenges to ensure a fair experience. “They have to think about the rules—different people have different house rules,” Maurer said.
Securing a spot on the school calendar was another hurdle. “It’s hard to get an event on the Simon Student Center sometimes because so many groups want that space,” said James Coors ’27. “We had to plan pretty far out.”
Beyond the competition, the event aimed to foster community. Coors emphasized that the tournament provides a rare opportunity for students who may not own consoles to play together in a social environment. Zhang agreed, adding, “I hope [participants] find time to have fun—to stop being locked away in their rooms and interact with the community.”
The atmosphere during the brackets was high-energy. “It made me feel more connected with everyone,” said Edwin Cameron ’27. “There were people cheering my name at the start; it was hype. Just being there with people cheering you on is a great feeling.”
For others, the tournament was a starting point for new friendships. “My roommate came to cheer for me, and I met Preston,” said Shaun Jalalzai ’29. “Even though it was only the second time playing with him, we became good friends there.”
Looking ahead, the Gaming Club hopes to maintain its momentum in the SSC. Potential future events include a movie night or a different competitive title. “We were thinking about a Mario Kart tournament in the spring,” said Orders. “We could also do a trip like we did last year to see a movie, but… who knows?”
Ultimately, the tournament succeeded in its mission to bring students out of their dorms and into a shared, exciting environment. With continued efforts, the club hopes to expand its reach and provide even more opportunities for the campus gaming community to grow.