New York National Guard Soldier Selected for Army Esports Tournament

New York Army National Guard Spc. Marcus Wornick, a Seneca Falls native, will be playing Super Smash Brothers Melee for the Army during a four-day video game tournament that kicks off February 14 in San Jose, California.

by Stephanie Butler

Latham, NY (02/11/2025) — LATHAM, N.Y. -- New York Army National Guard Spc. Marcus Wornick, a Seneca Falls native, will be playing Super Smash Brothers Melee for the Army during a four-day video game tournament that kicks off February 14 in San Jose, California.

Wornick, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, assigned to B Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion, is one of eight Soldiers competing on the Army's Esports Team during the Genesis X2 tournament.

Wornick enlisted into the New York Army National Guard October of 2020 and became a part of the esports team in June of 2024.

The U. S. Army Esports team was founded in November of 2018, to modernize recruiting efforts, by connecting with younger audiences and make recruitment efforts more relatable.

Wornick said he's looking forward to the competition.

"I prepare every day when I come home from work," Wornick said. "I stick to a consistent practice routine, practicing movement and specific combos, then I swap over to playing other people."

The goal of the tournament is to win at least three out of five games; winning the set and advancing in the tournament is the goal, Wornick explained. The tournament will consist of over 1,100 participants from all over the country.

Wornick has spent the last year competing in over 50 private tournaments on his own, throughout New York and Pennsylvania, to sharpen his skills and improve his competitiveness for the Esports team.

Super Smash Brothers Melee series is a platform fighter that differs from traditional fighting games, as the objective is to force opponents beyond the boundaries of the stage, according to the games' website. Each player uses their unique abilities to win the battle.

The U.S. Army Esports team consists of 11 Soldiers who compete full-time. However, there are nearly 200 Soldiers that can be called upon to compete if needed, according to the team's Instagram.

This will be Wornick's first tournament with the team.

"I always wanted to be a professional gamer (but) as you grow up, priority's kind of shift," Wornick said. "The Army allowing me to travel to events and play under the Esports team makes me feel like a professional."

The Esports team consists of several small groups that are broken up according to each of the player's specialty games.

"If I were to win, it would be a couple thousand dollars and a trophy. It would also get the Army some pretty good recruiting," Wornick said.

"All National Guard Soldiers, Reservists, and active-duty Soldiers all have the opportunity to join, most games have tryouts at least quarterly to get new players," he said.

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