MHSEL Community E-News
"Game On" is the Michigan High School Esports League's community e-newsletter. The goal of this publication is to provide educators & coaches with important announcements, information, and insight on all things esports and its connection to students and education.
TUNE IN > > > MHSEL Happenings
Spring 2026 Season Numbers!
236 schools participating with more than 953 teams, engaging 4,631+ students.
Playoff Reminders & Schedules
REMINDERS:
- Include substitutes on playoff rosters; reschedules are very limited.
- Spring break conflict + Bye Week used? Contact support@playvs.com ASAP.
- Reschedules beyond 48 hours allowed, but must be completed by April 7.
ROSTER LOCKS:
March 30 = Regional Leagues
April 6 = State Leagues
Season Concluding Event on April 25 at Oakland University
Featuring Semi-Final and Championship rounds for the following titles:
- High School: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Varsity), Valorant, Rocket League and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Middle School: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Award Nominations & Applications due Friday, April 3
Don't forget the 2026 Spring Season High School Esports Awards! Start recognizing outstanding players and coaches; selected honorees will be celebrated in person at the State Championship event at Oakland University on Saturday, April 25. Additional details for each award are available in the forms linked below, or you can click here to view the announcement in Meg's Monday Memo.
LEARN IT > > > What Esports is All About
PlayVS + Gaming Concepts
Gaming Concepts is an innovative, standards-aligned Career & Technical
Education curriculum that focuses on taking engaging content to meet
students where they are and ties in afterschool programming through esports
competitions and purposeful play.
New Resource Alert!
MHSEL has developed a guide to support schools in launching an esports program, complete with resources, a league overview and insights into the benefits esports brings to the school community.
GUIDE US > > > Coach's Corner Resources & Insights
Help Protect Students from Gambling Risks
Share the Don't Regret the Bet Campaign
Youth are increasingly exposed to sports betting messages. The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s "Don't Regret the Bet" campaign invites booster clubs to help share responsible gaming awareness. Schools are encouraged to share this opportunity with booster organizations.
BOOST UP >>> Program & Athlete Highlights
Rep Your Achievement! MHSEL Chenille Patches
Help your students celebrate their achievements! Share the purchasing link below through our partner, Herff Jones, to order official MHSEL chenille patches; perfect for letter jackets or adding to their collection.
Novi Earns #20 in USA TODAY/PlayVS Super 25 Rankings
The USA TODAY/PlayVS Super 25 esports rankings after Week 6 of the 2026 spring season highlight the nation's top high school programs. Congratulations to Novi for earning a #20 national ranking!
In the News!
Check out MHSEL schools and teams being recognized in their local communities. From Dearborn Public Schools just getting started to Kent City High School five years strong, the articles below highlight outstanding programs.
PLUG IN > > > Career & Curriculum Connections
How Virtual Co-Teaching Is Helping Schools Expand Career-Connected Learning
Expand STEM and career-connected learning without straining staff or budgets. Virtual co-teaching connects teachers with live industry pros for game design, programming & digital media—boosting engagement and real-world skills. Hear how Michigan educators are seeing classroom impact.
The Careers Students Discover When Curiosity Takes Over: Learning Blade in Action in Michigan
Middle school students in Hamtramck explored shipbuilding and engineering careers during the launch of Learning Blade’s "Assemble the Fleet" mission. Across Michigan, the fully funded platform helps schools connect STEM, AI and computer science learning to real careers.
Michigan College Students Receive More Than $558 Million in State Financial Aid
Michigan is investing big in student futures; more than $558M in aid helped 153,000+ college students this year. Discover how MiLEAP is expanding access, simplifying financial aid, and partnering with schools to open more pathways to college and career success.
PLAY ON >>> Additional Opportunities for Students
Build Your Future in Tech: Girls Who Code Pathways
Girls Who Code's free, flexible Pathways program empowers high school girls and non-binary students to explore in-demand tech fields like AI, cybersecurity, game design and data science; no experience needed. Running June 29–August 14, participants gain real-world skills, connect with mentors and earn certificates while building impactful projects.
PLAYVS > > > Platform Updates & Info
Meet Rachel Murray!
Say hello to Rachel, PlayVS Esports Engagement Manager and Michigan’s go-to! From onboarding to brackets, she’s here to help your program and our league thrive. Connect with her via email rachel@playvs.com.
Meet Alex Earley!
Alex is a PlayVS Account Executive who supports Michigan teams alongside Rachel. You can email him at alex.earley@playvs.com or schedule a meeting with him if you have any additional questions or need support!
MEET US > > > People & Partners of MHSEL
MHSEL Co-Directors
Ryan Cayce
ryan@mhsel.org
810-404-3322
Maggie Helmer
maggie@mhsel.org
616-318-2525
Megan Luther
megan@mhsel.org
586-747-4295
MHSEL Partners
This league is hosted by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and the Michigan Association of Student Councils & Honor Societies in partnership with PlayVS.