By Viviana Pruett-Saratan

Staff Writer

MARPLE, Pa. — The Gaming and Anime Club brought students together for an afternoon of friendly competition at its semesterly Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament on Friday, Oct. 10.

Held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Student Center, the event drew both competitors and spectators. For a $5 admission fee, which included pizza, players signed up on a first-come, first-served basis for one of the 10 to 12 tournament slots.

Contestants battled on the Nintendo Switch, with the gameplay displayed on large TVs for the crowd. Using a roster of popular fictional characters, players engaged in fast-paced combat in colorful arenas. Winners advanced to the next round, while eliminated players joined the audience to watch the remaining matches. Club President Kevin Leahy and Vice President Vince Hoang tracked the tournament’s bracket on a whiteboard.

“It allows everyone to come together,” Leahy said, highlighting the event’s role in connecting students through their shared enthusiasm for the game.

The tournament’s strong sense of community draws people back. Jack Lawson, a former student and past president of the club, returned for the event. Lawson, who passed the presidential role to Leahy, said he came back because of the people and the “close-knit community.”

As the tournament neared its climax, attendees moved to a smaller room to project the final matches onto a larger screen. The crowd cheered for both finalists, erupting in applause after each defeat. When the final match concluded, spectators chanted in unison, “One more game!”

In the end, a player named Uriah was crowned the winner after a notable streak, alongside a strong performance from Hoang. While there was no prize, the victory was secondary to the camaraderie and entertainment shared by all who attended.