UHD Esports, long known as one of the premier collegiate esports programs in Texas,
hosted "The Swampy Conquest," its first major esports competition on campus. The tournament
name, a nod to our beloved Gator mascot, also served to establish a connection with
local area high school players. Ed-U-Gator even made an appearance to cheer on all
the players!
The Swampy Conquest was held over two days, beginning on March 22. It served as the state qualifier for the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation (TEXSEF), a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to using esports to provide students with an accessible, inclusive, and equitable path to college, a career, or the military. TEXSEF provides low-cost esports leagues for schools and libraries and is run by K-12 teachers.
"Partnering with [TEXSEF] to hold the tournament at UHD was a no brainer; their mission is in line with our mission at UHD, which is to provide accessibility for upward mobility," said UHD's Jose Vazquez, Associate Director of Student Leadership & Involvement.
During the two days of esports action, over 150 competitors visited the Downtown campus, from high schools as far as the Beaumont/Port Arthur region to Matagorda Bay, to Galveston County. High schools represented in the contest are as follows:
- Atascocita
- Clear Brook
- Clear Lake
- Clear Springs
- Dickinson
- Klein Forest
- Manvel
- Palacios
- Port-Neches Groves
- Stafford
The esports tournament was held at the same time as UHD Open House and served as a
recruitment tool for UHD Esports. Many of the area's top players competed in the tournament,
including some of the top ranked esports athletes in Texas. Video game titles used
for the competition were: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Street Fighter, Valorant, Overwatch,
Rocket League, Mario Kart 8, and League of Legends. 
All UHD Esports' varsity teams volunteered to run tournament matches, making this a community service opportunity. "My favorite part about the tournament was the friendly matches with the competitors," said Abraham Leija, an English major and UHD eSports team member. "It was an opportunity to play against new players and characters, teach mechanics about Smash Ultimate, and learn the history and passion of the game from a younger generation of players."
The Swampy Conquest showcased how esports can bring everyone together. Participants were not only connected to their computers and consoles, but also to each other, as members of a community bigger than themselves. The Texas High School Esports State Championship will be held at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in April 2024. We wish much success to all the teams and players that are state bound!