Oilers Super Smash Bros. squad tops alumni field in uplifting in-house tournament
WOOD RIVER, Ill. — East Alton-Wood River’s Super Smash Bros. players turned a disappointing weekend into a productive one, closing out a tough stretch of competition with an in-house tournament that doubled as both a skills lab and a celebration of program history in the Esports Arena on Friday.
Just days after missing their chance to qualify for the IHSEA state tournament, the Oilers Co-ed Esports program hosted a solo Super Smash Bros. bracket featuring current players, coaches and several alumni, including head coach Mason Jerman, assistant coach Jordan Sheets, former head coach Drew Verdun, and alumni standouts Connor Humbert and Dayne Gernon. Jerman said the intent was to create an uplifting environment while still sharpening the team’s play ahead of the IHSA Super Smash Bros. season and an upcoming IHSA Sectionals appearance.
Senior London Wilson delivered the signature performance of the night, going a perfect 4-0-0 to claim the top spot in the tournament. The result marked a defining moment in Wilson’s final Smash season, as he navigated a field that included experienced alumni and multiple members of the coaching staff. Close behind, Dayne Faries finished second at 3-1-0, while former head coach Verdun and current player Dylan Summers each posted 3-1-0 records to round out a tightly packed top four.
The depth of the bracket showed through in the middle of the standings. Titus Dougher finished fifth at 2-2-0, followed by alumni competitor Humbert, assistant coach Sheets and alumnus Gernon, who all ended at 2-2-0. Current players Imari Wilson, Riley Walls and Izzy Jones-Duran each went 1-3-0, gaining valuable stage time against a mix of coaching and alumni experience. Head coach Jerman closed at 0-4-0, but his final match provided one of the most dramatic moments of the event.
In that finale, Jerman pushed alumnus Gernon to overtime in a tightly contested showdown that underscored the competitive tone of what was billed as a casual tournament. Gernon ultimately prevailed, but the extended match highlighted both the coach’s willingness to compete alongside his players and the alumni’s continuing connection to the program. Throughout the day, the tournament featured intense matches, frequent tactical adjustments and disciplined play, reinforcing habits the Oilers will need as they move into postseason competition.
Several storylines emerged beyond the final standings. Program leaders noted that the core of the current Smash Bros. squad not only held its own but managed to defeat both alumni entrants in various matchups, as well as most of the coaching staff. Verdun’s 3-1-0 showing, coming while he balances new fatherhood, demonstrated he still has the timing and game sense that helped build the program. For the players, measuring themselves against mentors and former teammates offered a benchmark of growth and a reminder of the standards set by past rosters.
While the atmosphere remained relaxed and community-focused, the Oilers treated the tournament as an important checkpoint before higher-stakes play resumes. With the casual showcase complete, East Alton-Wood River’s Super Smash Bros. team will turn its attention back to structured practice and preparation for its IHSA Sectionals appearance, aiming to convert the confidence and lessons from Friday’s in-house event into deeper runs when the next official season begins.
