Holy Family Catholic High School Esports Wins Mario Kart State Championship

Holy Family Catholic High School Esports brought home a Minnesota state title this season as juniors Joshua Peichel and Thomas Johnson, competing as the Blue Shells, captured the Mario Kart State Championship and completed an undefeated 8–0 season.

Their championship run capped months of practice, communication, and consistency, helping put Holy Family Esports on the map among Minnesota high school esports programs.

“It felt extremely rewarding to come first in the state after going undefeated during the regular season,” Johnson said. “It felt like all of our hard work during the season and before the season had paid off.”

Holy Family Esports Races to the Top

Both Holy Family Mario Kart teams opened the MNVL State Tournament in impressive fashion. The Blue Shells — Joshua Peichel and Thomas Johnson, with Liam Casey serving as substitute — and the Red Shells — Nolan Malmberg and Joey Breimhorst, with Patrick Luehne as substitute — each went 3–0 in pool play, advancing to the Final Four in the single-elimination bracket.

The Blue Shells continued their dominant run through the bracket and ultimately claimed the state title. For Johnson and Peichel, both juniors, the championship marked the culmination of a journey that began several seasons earlier.

“Josh and I first became teammates during our freshman year on the 4v4 Mario Kart team,” Johnson said. “We had finished second before, and that became a big motivation for us during the 2v2 season to finally come in first.”

That motivation helped carry the team through a demanding season, but both players credit their success to more than individual talent.

While both competitors are highly skilled, Johnson believes the real difference came from their chemistry and communication. “What made our team successful was the synergy we had with each other,” he said. “We’ve been playing games together for a while, and all of those different games strengthened our communication and really allowed us to perform effectively as a team.”

“Whenever one of us wasn’t doing the best in a match, the other would put in more effort so we could make a comeback,” Peichel said.

From Childhood Mario Kart Games to State Champions

For both players, the path to a Minnesota esports championship started years earlier with family game nights and childhood competition.

Johnson remembers first playing Mario Kart Wii with his siblings. “We didn’t play enough to get really good,” he said. “We just liked playing with each other and messing around.” During the COVID quarantine, however, he began playing more seriously and developing the skills that later translated into high school competition.

Peichel’s early experience also came through family rivalry. “I remember playing Mario Kart against my brothers growing up,” he said. “They were constantly beating me. It was fun but also frustrating sometimes.” After joining Holy Family’s Mario Kart team in high school, he committed to improving. “I wanted to get better so my team could get better,” Peichel said.

You can watch the final match and trophy ceremony on YouTube HERE.

Strong Representation Across Minnesota High School Esports

In addition to competing in Mario Kart, Holy Family Esports was also represented at state in Super Smash Bros. and Chess. Holy Family sent six teams to the MNVL State Tournament, a number coach Gary Kannel described as “above average” for Minnesota programs. Overall, Holy Family finished fifth as a program.

In Super Smash Bros., Nolan Malmberg placed fourth, narrowly missing a medal, while Roman DeLong also competed in the bracket.

In chess, Owen Cook advanced to the top eight, and Will Youngstrom also represented Holy Family in the tournament.

A Growing Holy Family Esports Community

This year, 25 Holy Family students participated in esports, competing across multiple titles and helping continue the growth of the school’s esports program.

For Peichel, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience goes well beyond wins and losses.

“The best part of esports is getting to know everyone on your team and becoming great friends,” he said. “It’s exciting being able to go all the way to the finish line with them.”

With the state tournament now complete, Holy Family players turn their attention to the PlayVS spring season, with the U.S. Central Region playoffs approaching after spring break.