On Dec. 18, the Silver Creek Black Knights defeated the Washingtonville Wizards in the New York State Mario Kart Finals in a best-of-three series. The Black Knights swept the Wizards to win the program’s first championship.

The four-player Esports team consists of seniors Ben Layton, Gavin DeFries, and Tyler Januchowski, along with sophomore Brenden Baker. Layton, a co-captain, was coined MVP by Coach Joshua Sadler after he dominated the second set of races.

“After a slow start, Ben really started ‘cooking.’ He was at the front of the pack for the last six races, and was a huge part of the team’s success throughout the season,” Sadler said.

Layton humbly responded to the praise from his coach, “I had no idea I was playing that well. I was so dialed in, I just raced. I really trusted my teammates and their communication, which allowed me to just do my thing. Overall, it feels validating, we aren’t a second rate team, we’re amongst the best in the country.”

Submitted Photos Pictured is the Silver Creek Esports Team, consisting of seniors Ben Layton, Gavin DeFries, and Tyler Januchowski, sophomore Brenden Baker, and Coach Joshua Sadler.

Sadler echoed Layton’s sentiments, adding, “The team has truly come together this year. Gavin, Tyler, and Ben have been playing together since their freshman year, and the addition of Brenden has perfectly rounded out this team. Each racer had a role this season and I believe they have perfected their strategies to show they can compete with the best.”

With the win, the Black Knights have qualified for the PlayVS Cup, a national competition that begins in May.