Bronco Esports at Lake Belton High School and Tiger Esports at Belton High School both secured spots in the State Championship Finals.
BELTON, Texas — Belton ISD is making waves in the world of competitive gaming, with both Bronco Esports at Lake Belton High School and Tiger Esports at Belton High School securing spots in the State Championship Finals at the Vanta Esports Fall 2024 Championship, hosted by Baylor University.
The two teams, representing more than 60 top squads from across Texas, showcased their skills in various competitive video games. Academic esports is a rapidly growing field that encourages teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving—all while engaging in STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, and math) challenges.
Lake Belton High School’s Bronco Esports team made a strong showing, with players Noah Brown, Skylar Cross, Elijah McQueen, Shawn Scholten, Lincoln Southworth and Anthony Tran competing in Overwatch 2. Meanwhile, Rylan Parr and Gabriel Vacula displayed their abilities in Super Smash Bros. At the same event, Belton High School’s Tiger Esports team, including Penn Baldridge, Marcel Byrd, Javonni Haggins-Fore, Aaron Lancaster and Owen Pierce, represented their school in Fortnite.
Founded in 2020, Bronco Esports has grown into a dominant force in the esports community, with 39 players competing across 29 teams in two major leagues—Vanta and the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation (TexSEF). Under the guidance of Coach Kristie Shepherd and Bronco Media teacher Dustin Shepherd, the program has flourished.
“I’m incredibly proud of my players for leading this effort,” said Mrs. Shepherd. “Esports has given them amazing opportunities, and now they’re giving back.”
Bronco Esports is eyeing even greater success in the future, with plans to compete in the Spring 2025 playoffs at Baylor University and return for the Fall 2025 championship. The team is also focused on expanding the program district-wide, hosting more in-person competitions, and securing sponsorships.
Tiger Esports, also founded in 2020, has rapidly grown from a small club into a competitive program. The team has placed first and second in Fortnite and fourth in Rocket League at their first state competition at Esports Arena in Arlington.
Despite challenges, including a summer theft of essential equipment, the program has continued to thrive, thanks to generous donations that replaced the stolen consoles and hardware. Additional funding has allowed the program to expand with new gaming systems and personal computer setups, further increasing student participation.
“For so many students, esports is more than just gaming—it’s a place to belong, grow and succeed,” said Coach Shepherd.
