GASTON — The Wes-Del Warriors have built something special, and on Saturday, they added another shining trophy to their growing collection.
Competing at the 2026 Indiana Esports Network (IEN) Finals held at Riverview Health Arena in Noblesville, the Wes-Del esports team captured a state championship in Mario Kart Division A. This victory marks the Warriors' third esports state title in just four years, following back-to-back Valorant state championships in 2023 and 2024. If that's not the mark of a dynasty, we're not sure what is.
The championship squad featured six seniors: Braydon Bennett, Gavin Castillo-Paredes, Carter Flynn, Owen Lamb, Braydon Losh, and substitute Brock Nauman. Together, they've proven that success in competitive gaming comes down to the same ingredients as any sport—dedication, teamwork, and a winning mindset.
Andrew Romine, Wes-Del teacher and esports administrator, credits the program's culture for the sustained excellence. "When it comes to our esports program, we put a decent amount of time into creating an environment that is conducive to that," Romine explained. "It kind of draws a lot of people, so that's kind of been a big deal. The other thing is, if you talk to these guys, most of them are engaged in athletics in some kind of way in our building, and so this is just one more athletic feather to drop in their caps."
Unlike traditional sports with shorter seasons, the esports calendar stretches from September all the way to late April. That gave the Warriors plenty of time to sharpen their skills on Mario Kart's iconic racetracks—and they needed every minute of it.
"We were nowhere near as good when we started," admitted Flynn. "If you would've seen us at the beginning of the year, it was really bad. There was no way we would have made it to state with that, but just a lot of practice, we practice once or twice a week on the tracks and on our own time, on our (Nintendo) Switches and stuff."
Flynn's journey to the esports team started simply enough. When Romine was promoting the program at lunch one day, Flynn asked what games were available. Mario Kart caught his attention immediately—the nostalgia of playing it as a kid was too good to pass up. Little did he know that childhood favorite would lead to a state championship.
For Wes-Del, the dynasty is real, and it's only getting stronger. Whether you're a gamer or just love a good underdog story, this team reminds us that greatness comes in many forms—and sometimes, it's powered by a little red kart and a well-timed banana peel.