Paul Pirates Open Season With Statement Sweep, 3-0 Over Eastern
Smash squad starts its championship chase with a dominant opening-night win
Zamonte Hizell — Esports Reporter
The Paul Public Charter School Smash team opened its 2026 season the way it means to finish it — with a win. The Pirates swept Eastern Varsity Smash 3-0 in a best-of-five series on September 23, never dropping a single game to the Eastern Senior High School squad.
Leading the charge were returning seniors Eric Maldonado and Antonio Garcia, back for their final season and chasing the one prize that has eluded them: a championship. After multiple runs to the title series that ended in second place, the two veterans are on a mission to bring Paul its first championship — and they set the tone in game one.
The night also marked a milestone for the next generation. Rookie freshman Jai'lon Ware picked up his first-ever high school win in his debut — and made it count, closing out the second round with a flawless victory. It's exactly the kind of start that turns a first-year player into a future leader.
A 3-0 sweep to open the season sends a clear message to the rest of the league: the Pirates came to win, and the championship road runs through Paul.