DuBois Central Catholic School is pleased to announce that its esports team has been named the 2026 State Champion in the first-ever PA Scholastic Esports League Minecraft Building Challenge. DuBois Central Catholic’s team competed against other high schools from across the Commonwealth to win the title.
The PA Scholastic Esports League season began with regional competitions held throughout the state. DuBois Central Catholic School competed against schools from Region 5, which is made up of Clearfield and nine other surrounding counties in Central PA. The regional challenge was for each team to build a sustainable farm using Minecraft Education, a game-based learning platform for students.
Team member Jack McLean said, “We had three weeks to construct our farm. We built a sustainable fish farm, complete with aquaponics and a covered mushroom growing farm. We used solar energy, and tied elements of our story to rural PA. We accounted for our local weather, and sourced locally made materials.”
The group was thrilled when they won first place for their build. “The kids were really involved with the story and the details of the farm,” said the group’s advisor, Jenny Osterman. “I believe their in-depth story-telling is what really set them apart.”
Dom Sliwinski explained, “Our whole team has a lot of experience playing video games and Minecraft. Lessons in other subjects helped as well. Some of us on the team take Applied Agriculture & Food Science. That class studies hydroponics and agriculture, so we have seen firsthand how it works. The lessons we’re learning in our video game design and coding class have been a huge asset. Lessons in design thinking and project management helped us to assign tasks and manage the project.”
Brando Salandra added, “We have learned that you need to consider how others view your project, not just how you see it.”
As first place winners, the DuBois Central Catholic team was eligible to participate in the state championship held on February 4th in Lancaster, PA. Teams were presented with the building challenge fifteen minutes before the start of the competition. The objective, to design and build a Minecraft world centered on the theme, “Pennsylvania’s Factory of the Future,” required teams to create a factory complete with advanced technology and sustainable energy to strengthen Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry. The theme was chosen to reflect Governor Shapiro’s economic strategy, which highlights manufacturing as a high-growth opportunity for the state.
Students were tasked with building a “manufacturing ecosystem that prioritizes sustainability through industrial decarbonization and creates a resilient supply chain that connects raw materials to global markets,” according to the PSEL Minecraft State Finals 2026 Team Guide. Projects were judged based on theme, creativity, presentation, and a bonus section.
“My first thought upon hearing the theme was, ‘We’ve got this,’“ declared Sliwinski. “We were prepared. Our team has a shared vision and way of thinking. We work as a tight knit machine.”
“Our team designed and built a sustainable cold fusion powered glass plant, inspired by Brockway Glass,” said McLean. “We did a lot of story development, including taking into account the effects on the location and supply chain. We also added characters throughout the build to explain the elements of the factory. Besides the glass plant itself, our build included a railroad, recycling center, and robotic automation.”
“Because of the weather on the day of the competition, we were limited to only one hour to complete our build,” said Sliwinski. “We’re especially proud of how cohesive our story was for the short time frame. It was a peak teamwork experience. We finished everything we laid out just as the time ran out.”
The best part of the competition was the friendship of the team. “We faced challenges due to technical difficulties at the competition venue. Our group really learned the value of teamwork,” said Ethan Gray.
“The congratulations and recognition were awesome,” added Sliwinski.
Osterman is proud of the team’s accomplishments. “They worked extremely well together and put a lot of consideration and creativity into both of their builds. It was amazing to watch as their plan came together. They did a great job in such a short time frame. I’m so proud of them.”
The PA Scholastic Esports League is divided into eight regions across the state. The league integrates competitive gaming with learning, skill development, and career readiness. The league works “to transform the educational landscape by integrating competitive esports with essential learning and career readiness…we are dedicated to providing a safe, structured, and inclusive environment for students across Pennsylvania. We prioritize learning and inclusivity, ensuring all students have opportunities to develop critical skills for their future.”