JANS - Warren Meeks would like you to remember his name. At just 15-years-old, he's one of the best Esports players in the nation after winning his second Madden NFL MHSAA State Championship and placing 1st overall in the national PlayVS Cup.
Meeks' last face off was May 23, 2024, where he earned a 1st round bye because of his impressive record. He then competed in the second round against a player from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was defeated in a close series.
Just before the national competition, Meeks clinched a victory against a student from Clinton High School.
It was the first time a Jackson Public Schools scholar participated and won.
Baby boomers might refer to Esports as just video games, but this billion-dollar industry is about tournament and league structures like traditional sports where gamers square off in teams or individually. Instead of in-person games, spectators are immersed in the virtual realm, watching skilled competitors battle it out in captivating showdowns.
Standing 5'10" and weighing 150 pounds, Meeks is a defensive back for the Murrah Hill High School Mustangs. And Meeks says navigating the football field has given him a 2020 vision of the virtual world.
"I think it allows me to adjust to what my opponent does," Meeks said. "Adjustments - that's a really huge part of Madden. I would say that's probably my best trait playing this game. I think I'm very good at making adjustments on the fly. I may lose a game like a game in one series, but overall, I come back in the second game, I make the right adjustments, you know, that helps me win the second or third game, ultimately, the series," he added.
His psn online name is Youplayedyours, and he's so confident in his skill that he welcomes anyone in Mississippi to a challenge.
"No doubt. I love a good challenge," Meeks smiled. "Everyone should remember the name - Warren Meeks, Class of 2027."
More than a gamer, the 9th grader also has a 3.8 grade point average and a strong support system, including his friends, parents, and coach.
"He's just an overall good person - good kid, and has a very supportive family," Murrah High School history teacher and coach Glen McInnis said. "I know he's going to be outstanding at whatever he does, and he's just getting started."
Esports is a part of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHA), which is the national leader and advocate for high school athletics as well as fine and performing arts programs.