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Vol. 55, No. 35
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
POISED FOR COMPETITION —Gabriel Armstrong, left, and Garrett Armstrong compete at the Bendix Arena in South Bend’s Century Center. Photo provided by Garrett Armstrong.
Students
LEVEL UP in ESports By ABBY OLIVER Staff Writer Athletic sports have been a major part of college life for decades . In recent years, however, Esports has emerged as a rising outlet for students in both college and high school . Locally, several schools are following this trend, and coaches and directors at three institutions highlight the skills, leadership and other benefits their students gain from Esports .
Manchester University
Esports has become one of the fastest-growing programs at Manchester University . Manchester University’s Esports program began in fall 2019 with tryouts, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the university online for part of the spring semester . Because tryouts were completed before the shutdown, the program continued operating virtually . Despite challenges at its founding, the program started strong with 18 students competing in three games: “League of Legends”, “Rocket League” and “Super Smash Bros .”
Garrett Schieferstein, director of Esports at Manchester University, explained the pandemic’s effect on the program . “COVID probably helped out a little bit with building collegiate Esports because kids had to stay home for weeks and months on end, and it really helped grow Esports by getting more people into the games,” Schieferstein said . Since 2019, the program has grown to 102 students competing in seven games: Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, Marvel Rivals, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros . and Valorant . Three full-time staff members - including Schieferstein and head coaches Logan Copsey and Aaron Cadiz - make the program one of the most wellstaffed among comparable colleges . Scholarships of up to $6,000 per year are available to incoming freshmen and transfer students . Although Esports is classified as a sport, some still hesitate to label it as such . Critics argue that it is not as physically intensive or that students are simply “playing video games .” In real-
ity, it is more demanding than many realize . “A lot of people think that Esports is just pressing buttons,” Schieferstein said . “The reality is, anyone can play Esports . You can be in any physical condition to play Esports . But it is really tough to do at a high level - it’s very low entry but very high mastery .” Schieferstein said there is significant pressure to succeed in Esports, similar to traditional athletics . “In basketball, you can sub people in and out and you have a 10-man rotation,” Schieferstein said . “In Valorant, there are five players . If you mess up, you are probably losing that game .” Manchester competes in the National Association of Collegiate Esports and is an eighttime Great Lakes Esports Conference champion . Even in its short time at the university, the program has made an academic and personal impact . Two of the first students Schieferstein mentored - including the first Esports scholarship recipient - have graduated . In a full-circle moment, one former player is now a high school teacher who has started
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READY FOR ACTION — Garrett Armstrong, a junior majoring in criminology and minoring in sociology at Manchester University, competes at the Bendix Arena. “Being in Esports reminds me that there are long term goals that feel unachievable, but with dedicated effort and the right people, you can definitely push to the top,” Armstrong said. Photo provided by Garrett Armstrong. an Esports program of his own . “Watching them grow from these awkward, introverted 18-year-olds into 22-year-old captains, leaders, mentors and future educators was crazy,” Schieferstein said . “They loved their time here and now they’re helping the next generation of Esports students have those opportunities, which is really cool to see .” Students interested in the Esports program at Manchester University can contact Schieferstein at GDSchieferstein@manchester .edu .
Grace College
The Esports program at Grace College has also expanded since its founding . Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has grown steadily and now has 18 active participants . Students compete in “Fortnite”, “Rocket League”, “Valorant” and “Overwatch 2 .” The team participates in the PlayVS College League, which organizes structured seasons for colleges across the country based on skill level . Marcus Moore, recruiter and program overseer, believes Esports is a valuable addition to college sports . “I don’t think it has to be a direct competitor to traditional sports, but it’s a great opportunity for the sporting landscape to expand,” Moore said . “Esports requires skills - like all sports - that align strongly with academic and workforce readiness .” Moore outlined leadership and communication, analytical thinking, data review, time management, brand building and media literacy as important skills students gain through Esports . Grace College also offers scholarships to students who participate in Esports, with amounts varying based on skill level . As interest in Esports continues
to rise nationally, Moore hopes to expand the roster, upgrade equipment and facilities, and add games such as NBA 2K and Madden . Moore encourages high school students to consider Grace College and the opportunities available through its Esports program . Interested students can contact mooreme@grace .edu .
Tippecanoe Valley High School
Esports is not limited to colleges . High schools across the country are also entering the world of Esports, including Tippecanoe Valley High School . The high school’s program began in fall 2020 and currently offers two games: “Overwatch” and “Marvel Rivals .” About 20 students, from freshmen through seniors, compete in PlayVS and the Indiana Esports Network, a collective of more than 150 school districts across the state . The network organizes competitions for 15 games across three enrollment divisions . Jonathan Tinkey, coach and sponsor of the program, recognizes the value of student participation in Esports . He has students who compete in traditional athletics as well as Esports, something he says is “really cool to see .” Tinkey also sees Esports as a way for students to earn scholarships in college and develop critical-thinking skills . “It’s a great way to build community in Indiana,” Tinkey said . “We get to organize skirmishes with other schools in the area .” Skirmishes are unofficial matches, similar to scrimmages in traditional athletic sports . Tippecanoe Valley High School recently completed largescale renovations to several spaces, including a brand-new Esports room .