Kent County Cup gamers represent 18 high schools

October 22, 2025

Kent ISD Kent County Cup 1 — From left, Josiah Bray, fourth place; Mason Abbott, first place; Gavin Nelson, second place; Reuben Starnes, third place (courtesy)

Kent ISD — Forty ninth- through 12th graders gathered this past weekend for an intense day of gaming, racing their virtual way through the levels of Mario Kart 8 during the Kent County Cup Esports Competition.

Players represented 18 high schools plus homeschooled students.

Taking home the trophy and medals were first-place winner Mason Abbott, a freshman who is homeschooled; second-place winner Gavin Nelson, a sophomore from Caledonia High School; third-place winner Reuben Starnes, a sophomore from East Kentwood High School; and fourth-place winner Josiah Bray, a sophomore from Grand Rapids Christian High School.

The fourth Kent County Cup event took place at the Kent Career Tech Center.

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Erin Albanese

Erin Albanese is managing editor and reporter, covering Kentwood, Lowell and Wyoming. She was one of the original SNN staff writers, helping launch the site in 2013, and enjoys fulfilling the mission of sharing the stories of public education. She has worked as a journalist in the Grand Rapids area since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she has written for The Grand Rapids Press, Advance Newspapers, On-the-Town Magazine and Group Tour Media. Read Erin's full bio