Belton Independent School District esports teams have a track record of competing at the state level.
Last semester, Lake Belton High School and Belton High School competed in the Vanta Esports Fall 2024 Championship at Baylor University where more than 60 teams from across Texas were in attendance.
“Esports, or electronic sports, refers to organized competitive video gaming,” Candice Griffin, a Belton ISD spokeswoman, said in a news release. “Through participation, students hone essential skills like teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and leadership while engaging in STEM-related challenges.”
“With three state titles through Vanta and a push for the TexSEF champion belt this spring, Bronco Esports is aiming high,” Griffin said. “The team will compete in the Vanta Esports Spring 2025 Playoffs at Baylor University in May and return for the Vanta Esports Fall 2025 Championship.”
Lake Belton High School students Noah Brown, Skylar Cross, Elijah McQueen, Shawn Scholten, Lincoln Southworth and Anthony Tran competed in Overwatch 2 at the Vanta Esports Fall 2024 Championship, while Rylan Parr and Gabriel Vacula competed in Super Smash Bros.
Belton High School students Penn Baldridge, Marcel Byrd, Javonni Haggins-Fore, Aaron Lancaster and Owen Pierce competed in Fortnite at the Vanta Esports Fall 2024 Championship.
Both the Belton High School and Lake Belton High School programs were established in 2020 and compete in two major leagues: Vanta and the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation (TexSEF).
Belton ISD hopes to expand esports across the district, host more in-person competitions and secure sponsorships — goals students and staff are already tackling. Belton ISD recently established the first middle school esports team at Lake Belton Middle School.
The Lake Belton High School team, which facilitated the tryouts for the Lake Belton Middle School team, is slated to surprise the Lake Belton Middle School team with a revamped practice space that features a custom logo and wall graphics.
“I’m incredibly proud of my players for leading this effort,” Kristie Shepherd, who coaches the Lake Belton High School team, said. “Esports has given them amazing opportunities, and now they’re giving back.
The Belton High School team is led by teacher Scott Adams, digital librarian Shawndra Elliott and Belton Police Department school resource officer Jacob Schmille, and security officer Grant Phillips assists with recruiting.
“Since its inception, Tiger Esports has evolved significantly,” Griffin said. “In the early days, students gathered in a hallway with personal equipment, but through multiple Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation grants and fundraising efforts, the program expanded to include gaming consoles, personal computers, and a full-sized classroom. The team quickly found success, placing first and second in Fortnite and fourth in Rocket League at their first state competition at Esports Arena in Arlington.”
With additional funding, Shepherd is excited to see how esports in Belton ISD will grow.
“For so many students, esports is more than just gaming — it’s a place to belong, grow, and succeed,” she said. “With continued success at the state level, increased visibility, and growing district support, the future of esports in Belton ISD has never been brighter.”
