After a recent five-game playoff, the Indian Lake High School Esports Fortnite Team has secured an OHSAA State Championship.
It is the first team championship of any kind in Indian Lake School history. Members of the team are junior Jeremiah Galbraith, sophomore Kellen Walther and sophomore Vedder Slagle.
Walther says he was confident in himself and his teammates that they would bring home the title.
“It’s definitely an honor and an accomplishment. I’m very grateful that I was able to do this for our school and for our community. I’m definitely happy.”
Esports at ILHS is coached by SRO Logan Miller. He explained that the Fortnite team dominated play throughout this season after a major disappointment last year.
The team qualified for the state tournament hosted on site at the University of Cincinnati in 2024. However, they were unable to attend the event because it happened just days after the devastating tornado hit Indian Lake.
Coach Miller said this year, the championship was conducted remotely, just like regular season contests, and his team was on a mission.
“They won almost every game of the entire regular season. They just really put the time in with their ability to build, which is important in Fortnite, and their aim training.
“They’re really exceptional players and they put in the time. Nobody could stop them.”
As a member of the ILHS Boys Bowling Team, junior Jeremiah Galbraith is the only member of the Fortnite group to also play a physical sport for Indian Lake. He said just like anything else, excelling in Esports takes a huge amount of effort, talent and strategy.
“When we knew that we had state championships in mind, we definitely played day to day…Fortnite is not physical, but it takes a tough mentality and a good understanding. Watching other people play competitively helped.”
Walther estimates he played Fortnite at home and at school 40-50 hours per week during the season. At this time, both Walther and Galbraith are listed in the world Fortnite rankings. They credit teammate Vedder Slagle for stepping up his game in advance of the state championship, as well.
The team won four of the five games in the play-off and finished with an impressive 327 points. Loveland High School took second with 167 points.
Indian Lake High School Principal Kyle Wagner said he is super proud of the team and plans to hold a trophy presentation assembly as soon as the OHSAA hardware is in hand.
Indian Lake High School began offering an after-school Esports Club in 2019 as part of the district’s 21st Century Federal Grant.
Esports Ohio began holding state tournaments in 2022. OHSAA officially recognized the event in 2023.
You can watch the 2025 online Fortnite championship at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2430826844.