Game On(line)

Lucas Kilgore|November 18, 2020

A new frontier in academic competitiveness is on the horizon. Esports has become more and more popular at college and high

school levels. According to NCSA Sports, there are 175 universities and colleges apart of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Some colleges and high schools project it to become as big as football while others are still skeptical.

This year, the school got it’s own Esports team at the club level.

“Esports is essentially competitive video games involving a team or organization and players,” senior and player Nick Porter said. “It’s everything a sport is however instead of a physical game it is a virtual game.”

With more and more teams being created and scholarships being granted, the future seems bright. This year will set the momentum for the school’s Esports team and it’s first roster are excited to see where it will go. Auto tech teacher, Joe Wheeler, is the sponsor of the team. He wants to give students the opportunity to play at a higher level.

“I’ve been playing video games my entire life,” Wheeler said. “I talk about video games to students all the time. When I heard that we were going to be starting an Esports team, I thought it would be something really great to be a part of.”

The team features a fall and spring season with three different games planned. The team is playing “League of Legends”, “Overwatch” and “Rocket League” this year. With 10 current members, Esports players practice and play to win. They won their first Esports match 2-0.

“It was pretty close especially towards the beginning,” sophomore James Calder said. “It started off close, we got a lead and continued the momentum through the rest of the game.”

Esports is not an individual task. It makes players work as a team to succeed like any other sport.

“It’s all based around team gameplay,” Calder said. “We all work individually in the beginning but halfway through the match we all work together in team fights to get a bigger lead.”

When it comes to practice, the team has to commit to practicing together and individually.

“We just play the game,” senior Brynn Birdsong said. “We play together and separately. A lot of it is hand-eye coordination and knowing how to use your champions the best way you can.”

Many students join clubs for community. This team

is no different. A warm welcome community lies at the

heart of the club for students who like video games.

“It’s generally a lot of fun,” Birdsong said. “We love to joke around with each other. We do tease a bit but at the end of the day it’s all a joke.”

Although the team for the fall is already playing, students can still join, play and practice for the spring.

“For right now, this fall, students are playing virtually from home,” Wheeler said. “It’s PC only and it’s students that have PCs already at home. Once we have our Esports room completed in the springtime it will be open to all students even if you don’t have a PC at home.”

“Some people may not understand it now, but Esports gets views, sponsorships, and players,” Porter said. “That is why I think it is amazing that I am able to be here at this time to be on this team.”