T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA R.L. Strength and Conditioning owner and operator Rick Leigh, on left, and Rig Studio engineer Jake Wharton practice their commentating skills for the first annual Stocking Stuffers Stream.

BRIDGEPORT — R.L. Strength and Conditioning and local podcast studio Rig Studio are getting their heads in the game.

The two organizations are partnering for the inaugural Stocking Stuffers Stream at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17.

The esports tournament will see 10 R.L. Strength and Conditioning students compete in a video game tournament that will be streamed on Rig Studio and R.L. Strength and Conditioning’s Facebook pages. Viewers can donate to the competitors’ Christmas list that will be linked in the video’s description via Amazon Wishlist.

“There’s going to be a 10-kid tournament on a very popular Nintendo game featuring an Italian plumber that I’m legally not allowed to say, but it is a fighting game,” Rig Studio engineer Jack Wharton said. “We’ll have local celebrity guest commentators with a camera on them that are going to talk and do UFC-style commentary.”

Doug Richardson of local band Splash Panel and Wharton will be the first round of announcers.

Wharton added that the first time he met R.L. Strength and Conditioning owner and operator Rick Leigh, he knew that the competition would be a fun idea for the pair to collaborate on.

“We were trying to come up with a way to do a stream to benefit his kids, whether it be through music, esports games, and just something with direct donations to the kids,” Wharton said. “We have all the tools at this studio just sitting around so I texted Rick [Leigh], said, ‘Hey, you want to make a move before Christmas and do a little stocking stuffer thing to get our feet wet a little bit with the streaming?'”

He added that once he and Leigh agreed on the idea, the event came together very quickly.

Leigh said that it was an opportunity he had to jump on for his students because he’s always looking for anything that benefits them.

“I’ve never heard anything like that around here. So when he put that together, I was like, whatever we have to do to make it work, man, we’ll make it work,” Leigh said. “It’s a way for the kids to actively participate in something that’s going to benefit them.”

R.L. Strength and Conditioning is a 501c nonprofit youth program offering training through boxing, plyometrics, weightlifting, cardio, and basketball.

“Everybody’s kids in the valley are welcome to come for free, all you have to do is sign a waiver,” Leigh said. “Especially in these times where things are super expensive and parents are strapped and stressed out, we’re a program for kids that’s free.”

He added that he created the organization because he saw a lack of free positive after school activities for children in the Ohio Valley.

“If you ever want your kids to get them involved, just bring them to us, and we will take care of them,” Leigh said.

Wharton added that the Dec.17 stream will be the first of many, due to the children’s interest and excitement about the event. Once he told the kids what game they’d be playing, they asked him if they could play other games in the future.

“I just think it’s a blessing to be able to help the valley families and kids during this time of year. Not everybody has a wonderful and exciting Christmas,” Leigh said. “But to also be able to provide something fun and free that can benefit these kids getting things on a list, and be able to be with their family during that time is just great.”