Warren County students win state Minecraft title

Fifth-graders from Beaty Middle School take top prize at Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League competition

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Three fifth-grade students from Warren County School District in Pennsylvania won the state championship at the Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League Minecraft State Finals. Patrick Ferrie, Bo Winkels, and Grayson Zapel from Beaty Middle School earned first place after advancing from the regional competition, which included schools from 14 counties. The students were tasked with designing and building a Minecraft world centered on the theme "Pennsylvania's Factory of the Future" that incorporated sustainable energy and Pennsylvania-based materials.

Why it matters

The competition aligns with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's economic strategy that highlights manufacturing as a high-growth opportunity for the state. By challenging students to build a sustainable manufacturing system, the competition aims to engage young people in addressing real-world issues around industrial decarbonization and supply chain connectivity.

The details

For the competition, the Beaty Middle School team designed a factory that produced fertilizer using renewable resources without harming the environment. Their build featured a system that transported the finished product onto boats for distribution to farmers. Despite initial nerves about finishing the project in time, the team ended up having five minutes to spare.

  • The Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League Minecraft State Finals were held on Friday, February 6, 2026.
  • The Beaty Middle School team advanced to the state finals after placing first in their regional competition, which included schools from 14 counties.

The players

Patrick Ferrie

A fifth-grade student at Beaty Middle School who was part of the championship-winning Minecraft team.

Bo Winkels

A fifth-grade student at Beaty Middle School who was part of the championship-winning Minecraft team.

Grayson Zapel

A fifth-grade student at Beaty Middle School who was part of the championship-winning Minecraft team.

Meggi Brown

The Minecraft advisor and gifted support STEM instructor at Beaty Middle School who coached the championship-winning team.

Josh Shapiro

The Governor of Pennsylvania who has highlighted manufacturing as a high-growth opportunity for the state.

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What they’re saying

“I am incredibly proud of Bo, Grayson and Patrick. They demonstrated a strong understanding of Minecraft building and the creativity that goes with it, while working exceptionally well as a team.”

— Meggi Brown, Minecraft advisor and gifted support STEM instructor (Times Observer)

“The competition was really fun and exhilarating. The build up was a little intense, but it was a lot of fun.”

— Grayson Zapel (Times Observer)

“We were all nervous about how we would do at the competition, but we were really excited too. We were worried that we wouldn't have enough time to finish building our world, but in the end, we had five minutes to spare.”

— Patrick Ferrie (Times Observer)

“I was surprised that we actually got first place. It was very uplifting.”

— Bo Winkles (Times Observer)

What’s next

The students will be honored at an upcoming school board meeting for their championship victory.

The takeaway

This Minecraft competition demonstrates how esports can engage students in STEM-related skills and challenge them to tackle real-world issues around sustainability and manufacturing. The success of the Beaty Middle School team highlights the value of extracurricular activities that foster teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.