CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Fort Dorchester High School alum and current Navy service member Kristopher Houchins is taking a free trip to the Super Bowl this weekend after winning tickets in a USO Madden video game tournament.
For the North Charleston native, he says it is so much more than just gaming.
“I was just on the ship. I just got back from deployment two weeks ago, actually,” Houchins said. “And that’s just my escape. It’s either, I’m playing my game, or I’m dealing with my little one year old.”
The 30-year-old Lowcountry native is currently stationed in Hawaii. He’s a Boatswain’s Mate Second Class in the United States Navy, dealing with maintenance, life-saving equipment, and various other tasks on ships.
He says he enlisted about six months after graduating high school and has now served in the Navy for 11 years.
This weekend, he’ll be in New Orleans after winning tickets to Super Bowl LIX at the USO NFL Salute To Service Showdown.
“I’ve placed top two every year, but this year I finally won the big prize,” Houchins said.
The Madden NFL 25 gaming tournament was held back in November at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Houchins says it was a special experience getting to play against military members from all six branches throughout USO Centers.
He shared some of his keys to success at the video game Madden: “Patience. I think that’s the best thing. And being consistent on your offense and making sure you don’t make as many mistakes as the other guy does.”
Another key for Houchins, he’s a life long Indianapolis Colts fan, but he switched up on his team in the Madden tournament for the first time this year. That was the key to him winning. So, it’s no surprise that’s the team he’ll be rooting for on Sunday.
“I’m gonna have to say the Eagles, because that’s the team who got me here,” Houchins said.
This trip to the Super Bowl will be the trip of a lifetime for Houchins. Even more special because he gets to bring his best friend along, a fellow graduate of Fort Dorchester High School.
“I’m taking Trever Arstad. That’s my best friend,” Houchins said. “He’s the person I started playing Madden with and also the person I started watching football with.”
Houchins also wanted to shout out his folks back here in Charleston for always watching his streams.
“Thank you to everybody back home,” he said. “I appreciate you all watching and supporting. And we’ll be back next year, hopefully getting two more tickets.”
The USO says they are proud to recognize guys like Houchins because they’ve seen how video games can allow service members to feel some sort of normalcy and support during difficult circumstances.
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