Article by Katie Loethen

Photos by James Pepper

Speed, Rivalry, and Victory: Highlights from the Annual Mario Kart Showdown 

The annual Mario Kart Tournament took place Nov. 14 in The Commons. Despite numerous contenders, only one emerged victorious.  

James Pepper secured the first-place prize, with Andrew Vincint claiming second. Matt Price and Celest Gibbons took third and fourth place, respectively.  

“I primarily attended to cover the event and entered just for fun. Surprisingly, I ended up winning the whole thing!” said Pepper. 

Students paid a $5 entry fee for the tournament, necessitating many to bring their Nintendo Switch consoles and controllers due to the high participant volume.  

“There were approximately 16 people who played,” said contender Andrew Vincint. “I had a great time because I was able to see a close friend of mine and play one of my favorite childhood games.” 

Many competitors attended to relive a classic childhood game and enjoy time with friends and foes.  

Regardless of the number, a considerable crowd gathered to witness the intense competition.  

“About 25 people attended the event,” noted participant Alex Cribs.  

Competitive races unfolded among the participants.  

“My favorite race was the final one between Drew, James, Matt, and one other person,” Cribs said. 

Both newcomers and seasoned players reveled in the classic game, with fortunate and skilled individuals walking away with the grand prize.  

While the monetary aspect was secondary, the focus remained on the enjoyment of the game.