KHSAA's Mario Kart Championships start Monday and I need to know more

Esports have been on the rise for several years now and were recognized by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) as an official sport in 2019. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, with more and more colleges and universities — including the University of Kentucky — starting esports programs and even giving out scholarships. So, the fact that there are esports high school tournaments should not be surprising at all by now. Yet, when I saw the KHSAA tweet out the bracket for its Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championships this morning, I still did a double take.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe competition in the spring esport championships starts Monday. Semifinal and final matches will be April 26. Check out the bracket. #khses pic.twitter.com/uF9XOQVdgB

— KHSAA Events (@khsaaevents) April 13, 2023

Oh yes, the playoffs for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championships start on Monday, April 17. Here are the participating teams and their respective schools:

• Blue Shell-by’s – Shelby County
• Jackets Orange – Williamsburg City
• Kart Panthers – Carroll County
• MCHS Red – Madison Central
• SpartanA – South Warren
• Lafayette Generals MK8 – Lafayette
• Burning Rubber Pirates – Belfry
• The Douglass Dashers – Frederick Douglass
• GCHS Kart – Great Crossing
• HCHS Mario Kart – Harlan County
• WCHS Cardinals – Wayne County
• Scott Eagles V – Scott
• Big Kart Go Vroom – St. Xavier
• LC MK – Letcher County Central
• KCD Esports Mario Kart – Kentucky Country Day
• NC Blue Jackets MK – Nicholas County

I don’t know about their driving skills, but Blue Shell-by’s (Shelby County) and Big Kart Go Vroom (St. Xavier) definitely win best team name. The second round is Wednesday, April 19 and the semifinals and finals take place on April 26 at the University of Kentucky’s state-of-the-art UKFCU Esports Lounge. They will be streamed live on the University of Kentucky’s Twitch channel.

If you’re curious, four more KHSAA esports championships also start soon and conclude at the UKFCU Esports Lounge on April 26: Rocket League, Madden, League of Legends, and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Teams that win state will be invited to participate in the PlayVS Cup for over $700,000 in prizes and scholarships.

Three questions. One, where was this when I was in high school? Two, the media is allowed to cover the KHSAA esports championships. Do we need to send someone? Three, is it time for us to finally make our dream of a KSR Mario Kart Tournament a reality? I’ve got red shells and am ready to rumble.