Defending National Champion Valley Christian captured the 2026 Arizona Interscholastic Association Rocket League state championship with a 4-2 series win over Liberty at the Grand Canyon University Esports Arena on Friday.

Rocket League is a 3-on-3, soccer-style video game that combines driving mechanics with fast-paced scoring, as players control cars to score goals in five-minute matches.

The 2026 AIA Esports State Championships brought together the top teams in League of Legends, Rocket League, Marvel Rivals and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in a two-day event in partnership with Grand Canyon University Esports and playVS.

While the championships determined state winners across four titles, the event also spotlighted the rapid growth of esports at the high school level – and the real-world skills and college pathways it is creating for student-athletes. 

Valley Christian’s lineup reflects a unique crossover between traditional athletics and esports. Three of the team’s four players are starters on the football team –  Asher “AirFryer” Hanzal, Jackson “SpecialJK” Kuyoth, and substitute Daniel “Danno” Hammond – who compete alongside team leader Chris “SurrealDog” Meier, one of the top 0.1% of Rocket League players worldwide, according to Tracker.gg. 

“I’m just really happy with how they performed,” Valley Christian esports head coach Jonathan Hunsaker said. “They stuck to the fundamentals, really communicated well as a team, and they showed a lot of adversity after going down 2-0 in the Championship, and after that we were able to completely flip a switch.”

Valley Christian’s ability to adjust mid-series proved decisive, winning four straight games by a combined 23-1 margin after trailing 2-0 in the series to continue its dominance on both the state and national level. 

Hanzal, a wide receiver signed to play Division II football at Minnesota State University Moorhead, holds multiple school records in football and track alongside his Rocket League National Championship. His accolades include career school records with 132 receptions, 2,302 reception yards, and 35 touchdowns; as well as the season record with 901 yards as a sophomore in 2023. Hanzal claimed the VCHS track record in the 4x100-meter relay last Tuesday at 42.95 seconds, showing his ability to perform at the highest levels in both traditional sports and esports. 

Although Liberty fell short in Rocket League, coach Aaron Zsilavec emphasized the program’s growth beyond results.

“They’ve continued to grow in the ranks of Rocket League, but also as a team,” Zsilavec said. “They’ve really become friends with each other. … They’ve created a community.”

That sense of community – along with communication and teamwork – was a consistent theme across all four titles, especially in the intensified in-person setting where players competed face-to-face rather than online. 

“It is very different when you get to see your opponent across from you,” said Arizona College Prep coach Zeke Abel.

Arizona College Prep captured the League of Legends state title with a  2-1 series win over Amphitheater. The  5-on-5 strategy game centers on teamwork, coordination and executing roles to destroy the opposing team’s base.

“They’ve gotten better and better,” Abel said. “They came from a bunch of solo players who weren’t used to playing together; and now they’ve really bonded.”

On Day 2, Liberty returned with a championship performance in Marvel Rivals, as the No. 13 seed swept No. 2 Copper Canyon 3-0. The 6-on-6, team-based combat game requires players to coordinate abilities and strategy with Marvel superhero characters in objective-driven battles.

Left to right, Liberty oach Aaron Zsilavec, Vincent Swei, Joshua Navarro, Jackson McLean, Daniel Moran, AJ Goss, Jeremy Ball, and Bradley Butterfield pose after winning the AIA state championship in Marvel Rivals at the Grand Canyon University Esports Arena Saturday night. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

“It’s a testament to the kids,” Zsilavec said. “All of our athletic programs are great and this is just a different avenue for kids who are trying to find their way in high school.”

Senior Jackson McLean said esports has provided both a competitive outlet and real-life growth. 

“It’s been really cool,” McLean said. “It’s been a good way for me to just express being competitive and make one of my hobbies into something I can be competitive in and really enjoy with my friends.”

McLean added that their preparation and strategy is what clinched the championship, while also saying that communication in gaming directly translates beyond competition. 

“You have to make sure your words cannot be misconstrued in any way,” McLean said. “I think leadership as well. … Just having that leadership, and growing that has been a really good skill for me and my co-captain Vincent as well.”

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Carl Hayden defeated Queen Creek 4-3 in the championship series. The platform-fighting game features one-on-one matchups using iconic characters where players use strategy and timing to knock opponents off stage.

Left to right, Carl Hayden's Amare Avendano, Brandon Zuniga-Montoya, Edgar Ochoa Bollona, John Bennett, and coach Michael Marmolejo pose after winning the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at the AIA state championship at the Grand Canyon University Arena Saturday night. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

Carl Hayden coach Michael Marmolejo emphasized the long-term value of esports participation.

“They’ve faced challenges and they’ve walked away shaking hands at the end and making a new friend,” Marmolejo said. “That networking, collaboration and teamwork are all things that this program teaches them how to do. They will take those skills and use them in the real world to accomplish great things.” 

Brandon Zuniga-Montoya, who went undefeated during the season, led Carl Hayden to the title and a berth in the 2026 PlayVS Cup – which features more than $50,000 in scholarship prizes. 

“It’d mean the world to beat all other 49 states. Zuniga-Montoya said. “It’d be a dream, man.”

Beyond competition, the event highlighted a growing pipeline to the collegiate level, with GCU Esports serving as one of the premier hubs for competitive gaming in the country, hosting the AIA State Championships inside its state-of-the-art esports arena in Phoenix. While supporting varsity and club teams, the program provides students with hands-on experience in areas such as live broadcast production, event operations, and content creation.

GCU Esports production manager Jackson Sturlin knows the importance of the connection between high school and collegiate competition.

Fans watching Rocket League AIA State Championship at the Grand Canyon University Esports Arena Friday night. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

 “Obviously we’re focused on our varsity level, but what’s more important to us is creating a pathway for high school students to be able to come to a university level,” Sturlin said. “We give full-academic-ride scholarships for varsity level, so to be able to allow them to get a free education, … we are proud to be able to help do that.”

As esports continues to grow across Arizona, its impact is extending beyond the screen – creating new opportunities while developing many of the same skills found in traditional athletics.