Eanes ISD’s non-funded, non-UIL Rocket League team accomplished their ultimate goal: state champions. To the players, the win was more than key goals or clutch saves; it was the result of months of teamwork, strategy and devotion to Rocket League, a video game that combines soccer and driving into a test of precision and timing.

“It’s just as much a team thing as individual skills,” senior Yuan Dong said. 

According to the team, good communication played a major part in carrying them through matches where pressure was at a high.

“We keep the communication really concise so everybody stays focused. It’s just a little bit of extra information to help during those stretches,” junior Kiran Seth said. 

Other than staying focused through good communication, practice played a large factor in bettering the relationship between players.

“There were games where we’d spend three minutes just playing straight defense,” junior Eshaan Yalamanchili said. “But then, in a span of 15 seconds, we’d find someone in midfield, play them a straight ball, and they’d take an immediate shot. That quick counter led to a lot of our goals.”

Every Rocket League team develops its own signature design or move, and this one is no exception. Their hallmark is a fast-paced counter attacking strategy called “The Kiran Classic.” Their decal consists of a pink and red octane vehicle, which can be designed in the Rocket League garage. Their strategy is pretty straightforward.

“Playing the ball from a winger to a center mid,” freshman Jude Smith said. “It’s a move based on communication, precision and just being in the right place at the right time.”

The championship itself wasn’t all smooth sailing, an early loss tested the morale of the team-reminders, a scathing 7-2 defeat in the first match, this setback became a chance for regrouping and adjustments.

“After every loss, we took the entire minute between games to talk about what happened and figure out how to fix it,” Smith said. “We always seem to lose the first game-it’s just a warm-up for us.”

“Being able to talk our losses out at the end of a match made a huge difference,” Dong said.

This adaptability further extended to taking on different opponents through the tournament. 

“The Kiran Classic” was a great play to watch that demonstrated the mechanical skill and play style of Kiran Seth.

Kiran Seth, an aspiring Rocket League player on the team has been talked about as the team’s master maneuverer.

“Kiran is really mechanically gifted,” Smith said. “He was on the sidewall near the midfield and hit the ball toward the backboard. It bounced perfectly, and he pulled off a quick double tap into the top corner.”

This level of skills depended on a practice schedule where they met often on Discord for team sessions and reviews of the games. 

“When Thomas Thomas was still here—we had a Discord coach—we’d have weekly evening practices and sometimes game reviews where we’d watch replays together,” Dong said. “We also did solo practice sessions to work on individual skills.”

Their attention to detail even pertained to technical preferences, as most of the team preferred cars with consistent hitboxes like Octane or Fennec. In addition, they had camera settings adjusted so that they could get maximum field-of-view. Now that the season is over, the team is thinking about its future in the game. Several players have received offers from colleges with esports programs, some even offering full scholarships. Smith received a hefty scholarship from Auburn University for his e-sports interest and dedication to the game.

“It’s crazy how playing Rocket League could result in something like that,” Smith said. 

However, they all admitted their competitive futures could be in the hands of what opportunities are presented to them at their colleges. 

“If the college I’m going to doesn’t have a team, I might stop, but if I have time, I’ll definitely keep playing,” Dong said.”Communication and adapting to each other’s playstyles have been huge for us,” Dong said . “After you play together for so long, you just know what your teammates are going to do,” Smith said.

For the Eanes team, Rocket League has been more than just a competition; it’s been a journey of growth, resilience and unforgettable moments and tricks like The Kiran Classic.

The Rocket League team’s success, dedication and teamwork prove that the high school Rocket League team to championship success and is representative of the growing legitimacy of esports in schools nationwide.