El Dorado High School’s eSports team began competing against other schools this semester. Last year, the eSports club played against each other and worked on gaming skills, but did not compete against other schools. Now, they are part of a league and in the midst of a short Winter Plus season, with a larger season beginning mid-February.
Coach Shawn McGuire spent months gauging student interest in competitive gaming, developing a team environment amongst students, and getting in touch with the league to see which games EHS students would be able to play competitively and against which schools.
Some of the benefits for students who participate in eSports are learning teamwork, STEM skills, problem-solving, and having a drive and purpose that compels them to focus on school.
“There are no lone wolves in this sport,” McGuire said. “Students have to work together as a cohesive team and be willing to listen, learn, and practice.”
To be eligible to participate in competitions, students are held to the same grade and attendance standards as students who play traditional sports. McGuire said his team members take eSports just as seriously as other athletes take their sport.
“This is their focus,” McGuire said. “It’s not just playing games, it’s competition.”
There are 30 computer stations and roughly 45 eSports team members. The team is divided into different leagues, and sub-teams within those leagues, so they do not all have to be able to play simultaneously. Competitions are structured so that a sub-team is declared the winner if they win two out of three times of playing the same game.
Whether this is their only extra-curricular activity or they are involved in other clubs or sports, the reasons students are drawn to eSports mirror the reasons students play other sports. They enjoy spending time with their friends, they enjoy the activity itself, or they like the idea of competing for the win.
“I wanted to start doing eSports to show that I can put myself out there and use my skills,” Tanner Burke said.
The atmosphere is much different now that they are able to compete against other schools. There is more preparatory work like joining the queue and preparing to join the games.
“It was fun last year but everyone was just playing random games,” Jacob Lipscomb said. “This is much better – being able to play against other teams with your friends and hang out while you’re doing it.”
The team competed against Lawrence Virtual School and McPherson on Jan. 30. The EHS Rocket League team beat number one-ranked Lawrence 2-0 and the EHS Apex team beat McPherson 2-0.