Windermere esports team wins Mario Kart State Championship

Jumping up and down, shouting and with smiles on their faces, the Mario Kart esports team at Windermere High could not contain its emotions as it won the 2026 Florida FASA Mario Kart State Championship Saturday, April 18.

Sophomore Beckett Vorwaller, juniors Marcos Lima, Alejandro Pereda-Miguez and Cameron Gainey, and senior Jack Aboud brought the championship home for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

The team, also known as Kart Lime, was ranked No. 9 in the nation by PlayVS, North America’s leading scholastic and collegiate esports, gaming and curriculum platform, after its performance in the Spring 2026 season. 

The team played in the semifinals and finals, winning the title of state champions by defeating Dr. Phillips 2-0. 

“It was just such a rewarding moment for us as a team,” Vorwaller said. 

The win came after months of preparation. 

The boys don’t believe they practice — they call it playing. Dominating. 

They sit in the visual arts classroom, which also is their coach’s classroom, make sure cameras, computers and other equipment is working properly, and then get to work. 

They practice warm-ups, some of the tracks and shortcuts, and play matches against one another. 

“Practice is more than just practice,” Lima said. “It’s a way to develop deeper bonds with each other. In the game, it’s all about chemistry — that’s something we have that many other teams don’t have. We have a connection to each other. That’s why we’re so good at the game, because we know each other so well.” 

To team members, having a bond is important. Thankfully for them, that’s not an issue, as they all get along well. 

“It’s fun because we can have sort of small rivalries with each other to help each other,” Vorwaller said. “That’s really what esports is about. There’s this community and connection that helps us really push ourselves to the best moments that we can.” 

During the championship, their bond is what made them win. 

“Not being on our home turf can be a little nerve-wrecking,” Pereda-Miguez said. “Especially with other teams who also have their own supportive crowds of fans and their well-established communities. … These friendships allows us to trust each other implicitly. I know they’d never lead me astray.” 

And that indeed did not happen. 

The last time they were at Dr. Phillips High for finals, they could not communicate with one another because of the noise. This time, they did not let that stop them from achieving victory. 

Instead, they continued to work on their bond and their teamwork while playing. 

“When you know your team well, you understand as you’re playing the game what they’re going to do,” Aboud said. “That allows me to know where I need to play because I know their play style well. We also know each other well enough to make jokes constantly as we’re playing, because at the end of the day, it’s also about having fun.”

They’re proud of what they’ve accomplished together and hope to continue playing together for the remainder of their time at Windermere High. 

To them, it’s more than just a game, it’s a community that provides long-term friendships and future opportunities.

Vorwaller said a lot of the skills learned through playing Mario Kart can be applied to real-world life experiences and careers, teaching them how to work together, research and analyze, multitask and more. 

“It’s also an invitation to other kids (who) might not have found their place yet,” he said. “We took something that some people might think is weird, nerdy or very basement-dwelling, and we owned it. We’re showing our strength as a school and a team.” 

Head esports coach and visual arts teacher Karen Ashe is proud of the Kart Lime team and the hard work its members put into the game and every championship in which they participate. 

“You guys are amazing,” she said to the students. “I love every minute that I spend with you, and we are like a family. These moments and these times are precious, and it’s my goal to provide you with just that last little bit of childhood and that last little bit of fun before you become adults. You have these memories to look back on — and that’s exactly what drives me to do what I do.” 

The boys are grateful for Ashe’s coaching and support. 

Inspired by her efforts, they hope other schools create an esports team so students across the county can experience the fun and team bonding they’re able to have. 

“Take that leap of faith, because it’s really worked out for us,” Pereda-Miguez said.