After suffering a 3-0 sweep to Freedom High School (CA) during the final week of the preseason, the Gilbert High School Gladiators returned with a vengeance in today’s highly anticipated Marvel Rivals rematch. Though the Gladiators ultimately fell 3-2 in a nail-biting five-game thriller, the team showed growth, poise, and promise that can’t be ignored.
With Coach Nakayama and special guest Athan Smith hosting the team’s first live eSports broadcast on Twitch, the Gladiators put on a show worthy of the spotlight.
Game 1
Led by today’s co-MVPs Sal Soria and Joshua Marquardt, the Gladiators flipped the script from last week’s defeat, jumping out to an early lead with a dominant 2-0 win in Game 1. The standout performance came from Gabriel Sandoval, who wreaked havoc on the front lines as The Incredible Hulk.
Gabe’s tank play was textbook—disrupting Freedom’s formation and clearing the way for Sal and Josh to pressure the back line. With coordination firing on all cylinders, Gilbert looked like a completely new team.
Game 2
Unfortunately, the focus and structure from Game 1 didn’t carry into Game 2. Freedom adapted quickly, isolating Gladiator players in a series of 1v1 engagements that exposed gaps in Gilbert’s positioning and communication.
Daniel Pacinto, in just his second week on the team, played admirably as Cloak and Dagger, leading both squads in healing. But without proper support, even Daniel’s efforts couldn’t keep the team alive long enough to sustain pushes. A highlight moment from Scarlet Macias on Emma Frost helped Gilbert steal one round, but they dropped Game 2 by a score of 3-1.
Game 3
As the Game 2 loser, Gilbert selected Shin Shibuya, Tokyo 2099, a convoy map the team had clearly studied. The preparation paid off.
Noe Soto, a brand-new addition to the squad, made an immediate impact as Invisible Woman, showing remarkable patience and game sense for someone who learned to play the game just days ago. Noe’s calm decision-making patched over multiple miscues and kept the Gladiators rolling forward. The result? A clean sweep and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Game 4
Game 4 moved to a much tighter map—a well-known Achilles’ heel for the Gladiators. Still, the team battled hard, with several individual outplays from Sal Soria and Alan Coronel, who each won multiple engagements despite being outnumbered.
Gabe Sandoval and Scarlet Macias came up clutch in critical team fights, but it wasn’t quite enough. Freedom edged out a narrow 2-1 win, tying the series once again at 2-2 and setting the stage for a decisive Game 5.
Game 5
The final map began during the all-important ban phase, where Freedom strategically removed several key characters played by Gilbert’s novice players. It was a calculated move that left the Gladiators scrambling to adapt.
In high-pressure moments like this, flexibility is everything—and while Gilbert’s veterans rose to the challenge, the lack of experience among the team’s newest members became hard to hide. Sal and Josh rotated through multiple hero picks in an effort to find answers, but were often forced into counter-matchups with little chance of success.
Despite the effort, Freedom closed out the series with a Game 5 win. Final score: Freedom 3, Gilbert 2.
Final Thoughts – A New Era Begins
Although the Gladiators begin the season 0-1, the progress made since their preseason sweep is undeniable. With strong leadership from returning veterans and promising performances from newcomers like Daniel and Noe, this is a team clearly on the rise.
The Gladiators also launched their official Twitch broadcast today, drawing in viewers like Mr. Lara, Dr. Slim, and Al—thank you all for your support!
Haven’t followed yet? Join the Gladiator esports community and never miss a match:
https://www.twitch.tv/
Next Match: Thursday, October 2nd at 4:00 PM MST
Opponent will be determined by matchmaking early next week.
