PEOTONE, Ill — Quick thinking and integrity took center stage this weekend as young gamers from across Illinois competed in the Illinois 4-H Esports tournament at Lodge Con. Playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, youth faced off in one-on-one matches that challenged them to anticipate their opponents’ moves and adapt under pressure, while exploring how an interest in gaming could connect to future career opportunities.
“Competitive esports give young people a chance to think on their feet and treat their opponents with respect,” said Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “This weekend’s tournament gave youth the opportunity to explore where their interests might take them. Whether they ultimately pursue a career connected to gaming or another field entirely, learning to adapt, solve problems, and respond to setbacks can help them prepare for that next step.”
Held at Lodge Con, an annual gaming convention in Peotone, the tournament featured Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in a double-elimination format, with youth competing in one-on-one matches during both junior and senior age divisions.
“I would probably compare esports to something like chess,” said Declan Gibbs, a member of the Bulldog Esports team at Riverside Brookfield High School who took first prize in the senior division, adding that esports have a unique strategy element many people don’t think about. “This year I wanted to switch it up and challenge myself, so I didn’t play my main character. I only dropped a single game, so it went very well.”
Players competed through successive rounds for a place in the finals and a shot at their division’s championships.
Senior Division Tournament Results
- 1st: DECLAN GIBBS
- 2nd: ANTONIO ESCARENO
- 3rd: ANDY CASTILLO-CARILLO
- 4th: LUCAS BAILYE
- 5th: ALAN JACHERO
Full results for the senior tournament are available online at go.illinois.edu/esports2026sr.
Junior Division tournament Results
- 1st: BRYANT BURDETTE
- 2nd: WILLIAM ELLIS
- 3rd: BRENDAN LAMKIN
- 4th: ADRIAN HENDRY
- 5th: LOGAN MULVENNA
Full results for the junior tournament are available online at go.illinois.edu/esports2026jr.
Preparing youth for the future with esports
While the tournament was important, Illinois Extension experts say preparing youth to succeed is the important part:
“Illinois 4-H is working to build a generation of youth that are Beyond Ready for the future,” said Illinois Extension STEM Specialist Keith Jacobs. “Esports provides a unique opportunity for us to reach young people who have an interest in gaming and turn that into practical skills and experiences that prepare them for the future.”
According to Jacobs, esports provide much of the same opportunities for personal growth as traditional team sports:
“Organized esports within schools and educational settings can help youth develop skills like teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, confidence, and a sense of belonging in a safe and supportive environment,” said Jacobs.
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With college representatives also in attendance at this year’s esports tournament, the event was a good reminder to start looking to the future. The skills youth practice through esports can support their next steps in their education and future careers.
“When young people have a passion for gaming, we want to help them explore where that interest could take them,” said Jacobs. “For some, that could mean competing professionally, but for many others they might discover a future in sound engineering, content writing, software development, network engineering, or any number of possibilities. Gaming is an excellent starting point for exploring a much wider range of careers.”
Illinois 4-H is open to all youth ages 8-18 in all 102 Illinois counties. To find a 4-H club near you or to learn more about the 4-H program, visit 4h.extension.illinois.edu.
SOURCE: Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator; Keith Jacobs, STEM specialist.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator.
MEDIA ACCESS: Images and cutlines can be downloaded for media use.
INTERVIEWS: Contact Anthony Warmack, warmacka@illinois.edu to request specialist interviews about this topic.
ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.