Central High’s Apex Legends Team Levels Up, Earns Shot at Nationals

 

After falling just short of the top spot in last year’s state esports competition, the Hazelwood Central High School esports team returned this season determined to push further.

Now, after finishing second in the state tournament for Apex Legends, the senior trio has earned something even bigger: a chance to compete on the national stage.

“Last year’s third-place finish in Overwatch 2 was an amazing milestone for our program, and seeing three of those same players come through this year to earn second place in Apex Legends made this achievement even more meaningful,” said Esports Head Coach Dr. Bryan Hindrichs. “It really shows their growth, resilience, and commitment. I’m extremely proud of the hard work Morgan Wilbret, Larry Parker, and Keegan Daniels put in, and the overall dedication to both the game and each other.”

For the team, the accomplishment represents not only competitive growth but also a testament to teamwork developed over their final years of high school gaming together.

“We were undefeated up until the finals in state,” said Larry Parker, a senior at Hazelwood Central. “We’re still bummed about second place. We still want more, so at nationals we’re definitely looking to try to take first and end off with at least one first placement before we graduate.”

Last year, the team competed in Overwatch 2, finishing third in the state tournament. This year, they switched games to Apex Legends, a fast-paced first-person shooter that combines strategy, communication, and quick decision-making.

The state competition also used a different format than the game’s traditional mode.

“Apex Legends is usually a battle royale, but at state we played a 3-on-3 team,” Parker explained. “It was very fun and chaotic because of the new format.”

Senior Morgan Wilbret said the new structure reduced the randomness often associated with battle royale games.

“I didn’t think we were going to like the 3v3 format at the beginning of the year,” Wilbret said. “But as the year went on, it was more fun because there was less luck involved. It was just our team versus theirs.”

The improvement from third place last year to second this year didn’t happen by accident. The team says experience and practice made a major difference.

“Last year was our first year doing esports,” Wilbret said. “We were still new to the atmosphere and how everything worked.”

Over time, the players continued to compete and improve, carrying those skills into Apex Legends.

“The difference between third and second place is really our critical thinking,” Parker said. “We kept playing and improving, and we could take what we learned in other games and apply it here.”

While mechanical skill is important in esports, the team says their greatest strength is communication and collaboration.

“One of the biggest aspects about our gameplay is how willing we are to accept others’ ideas,” said Keegan Daniels, another senior on the team. “There’s no real team captain. We all make decisions together.”

Each player brings a different play style to the game, which they say helps them adapt during intense matches.

“I like to rush toward teams,” Parker said. “But if my teammates say wait, we’ll wait. If someone thinks shooting from far away is the best option, we’ll do that instead.”

That flexibility allows the team to adjust strategies quickly in the heat of competition.

Despite finishing second in the state tournament, the team received an invitation to compete in the nationals, giving them another opportunity to prove themselves.

“Making it to nationals definitely felt like a big relief,” Daniels said. “I didn’t expect we were going to get another chance to go further, so having that opportunity is honestly great.”

For the seniors, the tournament carries extra significance. It represents their final opportunity to compete together before graduating.

“It feels like we get a second chance for redemption,” Parker said. “I’m definitely excited to play at nationals.”

The competition is scheduled for April 10, where the team will represent Hazelwood Central against top esports teams from across the country.

And while the players are proud of how far they’ve come, their focus remains firmly on the ultimate goal.

“We’re aiming for number one,” Wilbret said. “But even making it this far shows how much we’ve grown as a team.”

As the seniors prepare for nationals, one thing is certain: the Hazelwood Central esports team plans to finish their high school careers the same way they’ve played all season—together, competitive, and aiming for the top.