Fairfield High School’s esports program continues to grow in size, skill, and spirit — and this fall may be its biggest season yet. With record participation, competitive runs, and a long-awaited technology upgrade on the horizon, the Trojans are building something special in their digital arena.
Head Coach Tyler Weseman, who has been with the program since its founding, said the 2025–26 school year has been “the most exciting yet,” with more students joining, more games in rotation, and stronger performances across all teams.
“The Trojans ended last year with an awesome run in the playoffs from the Valorant team,” Weseman said. “We’ve kept that momentum going this fall with continued progress in both games, thanks to a mix of returning vets and new faces. It’s been a really exciting year so far, with even more students joining up this fall to give us our largest group ever.”
A Growing Community in the Esports Arena
Fairfield’s dedicated esports arena — located inside the high school — has become a daily hub of energy. Weseman said he’s been “manning the arena almost every day,” with students showing up not only for official practices but also to battle casually during lunch or after class.
“The kids have been taking advantage of it with lots of fun battles at lunch and more directed shenanigans during practices,” he joked.
The increase in participation has created both opportunity and challenge, with more players vying for varsity spots and finding ways to balance skill development with friendly competition.
“We have the largest group we’ve ever had, and that’s a great problem to have,” Weseman said. “There’s always a game going on, always energy in the room.”
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fairfield’s Flagship Game
This fall, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has taken center stage as Fairfield’s biggest competitive title, boasting 16 players across varsity and junior varsity — by far the program’s largest turnout in any single game to date.
The Varsity Smash team, sitting at 4-3, faces a crucial substate playoff match against Clear Lake (6-1) on Tuesday, November 11th. While their record might seem modest, Fairfield’s losses have come against powerhouse programs with a combined 23-1 record.
“We’re still set up for a good match,” Weseman said. “The teams we lost to were top-tier, and we played them pretty close. That gives us confidence heading into the playoffs.”
The veteran-led roster features seniors Gabe Strong, Tristen Garretson, and Christian Frantzen-Engel, all of whom have made major strides in both gameplay and leadership.
“They’re all great guys,” Weseman said. “They’ve each taken big steps forward in their gameplay and maturity this season.”
Supporting them is a strong core of juniors — Kani Haddon, Ledger Dodson, and Aaron Carlson — who have consistently delivered clutch plays and in-game adjustments.
“Those three have been responsible for many of our best plays and mid-match adjustments,” Weseman said. “They’re calm, adaptable, and really set the tone for what we want this team to be.”
If Fairfield can upset Clear Lake, the team will advance to the Iowa High School Esports Association (IAHSEA) State Tournament in Marshalltown, set for November 19–21, with Super Smash Bros. matches scheduled for Friday, November 21st.
“We were so close last year — last stock, last game close,” Weseman recalled. “We’ve all been waiting for this. I just hope they’re ready. The competition is really tough this time, but we’ve worked all year for this chance.”
The team’s focus in recent practices has been on tightening fundamentals, maintaining composure under pressure, and learning from near-misses earlier in the season.
“We’ve been emphasizing keeping focus when things get chaotic,” Weseman said. “That’s what separates the good from the great — staying calm and executing when it counts.”
JV Smash: Undefeated and Unofficial Playoff Champs
Fairfield’s Junior Varsity Smash squad has been equally impressive, finishing the season 8-0 and competing in an unofficial playoff bracket organized by coaches across the state.
They’re now preparing for a rematch against Woodward Academy (6-2) — the same team they narrowly beat in sudden-death overtime just a week ago.
“It should be quite the evenly matched battle,” Weseman said. “Last time came down to sudden death overtime, so both sides know what’s at stake.”
The JV roster includes 11 players, nearly all of whom have seen action in competitive matches this year — a testament to the depth and inclusiveness of the program.
“We’ve included almost every one of our JV players in real matches,” Weseman said. “We’re also seeing more girls joining the team and making strong contributions. The future’s looking bright, even with some key seniors set to graduate.”
Rainbow Six: Siege: Building From the Ground Up
This fall also marked Fairfield’s second full season competing in Rainbow Six: Siege — a tactical team shooter that demands precision, communication, and strategy.
Weseman said the program’s first year in Siege was a struggle, as the Trojans often lacked a full roster and faced steep learning curves against more experienced schools.
“To be frank, we didn’t really have a full team last year,” he said. “We tried to make the best of what we had and soldiered through a series of low-man beatdowns while unlocking stuff and basically learning the game.”
Despite those early challenges, Fairfield saw major progress this year, finishing with a 3-4 record and a full, active roster for the first time. The improvement came largely thanks to new students joining the district who brought enthusiasm and skill to the lineup.
“Having a full team made all the difference,” Weseman said. “We’re still less experienced than some of the highly ranked teams, but we gained a lot of cohesion and confidence along the way.”
One ongoing obstacle has been technology. The Siege players often contend with lag, packet loss, and frame drops due to aging PCs — problems that can make precision gameplay nearly impossible.
“Our computers don’t always cooperate,” Weseman admitted. “Lots of packet loss and frame drops. But the kids have handled it like champs.”
Upgrading for the Future
That’s about to change. After years of saving and planning, Fairfield’s esports program is about to upgrade its computer systems for the first time since their installation in 2020.
“We were able to save up enough money to get a set of machines that should keep us competitive for the next five years or more,” Weseman said. “Some of our technical issues should finally be reduced, and it’ll make a big difference for games like Valorant and Siege.”
The upgrade, Weseman said, could also help attract new players who were previously hesitant to join due to hardware limitations.
“I know for a fact we have more potential Siege and Valorant players who just don’t like playing on our current setups,” he said. “Once the new machines are in, I expect even more kids to get involved.”
The new systems are expected to arrive ahead of the winter season, when the Trojans will compete in Rocket League and Overwatch 2 — both PC-based games. Weseman said the transition might be tricky mid-season but is confident in his support team.
“Getting everything together mid-season is a bit daunting, but I’m sure Mr. Grunwald and the tech crew will make the magic happen for us,” he said.
Culture, Camaraderie, and Competitive Growth
Beyond the numbers and playoff aspirations, Weseman said the heart of the program lies in the community it’s built. The Fairfield esports arena has become a space where students of all backgrounds connect through teamwork, competition, and shared enthusiasm.
“It’s amazing to see how much the kids have embraced it,” he said. “They’ve built a real community around competition, creativity, and mutual respect.”
With one of the largest rosters in school history, a full lineup of competitive teams, and a major equipment boost on the horizon, Fairfield’s esports program is poised for long-term success.
“The path forward is pretty simple,” Weseman said. “If we beat Clear Lake on Tuesday, we go to Marshalltown. We’ve all been working toward this moment — and I think they’re ready.”
