CHEYENNE, WY - For the second straight season, the Laramie County Community College esports team will have a representative in one of the Mario Kart 8 National Championship matches after AJ Price punched his ticket on Monday afternoon with a come-from-behind victory over "Jerdy" from Northwest Arkansas Community College. 

The match started with "Jerdy" taking the opening two tracks after some tough starts for Price where he burned out and gave an early lead that the NWACC racer took advantage of. Price rallied back to win in the third map, but the real comeback began after he was down 3-1. 

Price took control, and helped along by a narrow victory in the sixth track, the freshman Golden Eagle was able to hold off the top seeded "Jerdy" to take the match 4-3 in stunning fashion. 

That sets up Price to compete in the National Championship match on Thurdsay with action set to start at 5:00 pm. Thanks to the win, Price would have to lose twice to give up the title as he looks for his first at the Contenders Series, or Tier 2, level. 

Gaven Thornock also was in action on Monday afternoon but he fell to the ninth seed from Marshalltown. Thornock entered the tournament as the 15 seed and turned heads with a pair of upsets in the opening day until he was sent to the losers bracket by Price in the Winners Semifinal matches. 

Thornock lost 4-1 in his final match of the season but impressed as he should be back next season to continue competing for the Golden Eagles. 

For more on the LCCC Esports team, please visit www.golccc.com.