ESPORTS AT CSU

CSU has established a new esports team which participate in competitive gaming.

By Richard P. Yancey

The Esport Cougars began as a club of video game players that created a name for themselves through their wins, leading to them becoming an official team at CSU.

They have been playing competitively for three years. Sharon Renner, their head coach, is an avid player of esports that holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Master of Public Health and Doctor in Philosophy in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has led the team to many wins using different strategies to guide the seven-member team through their competitions. Reener stated her goal for the team was to “build communications through team work to ultimately produce more wins.”

The team is currently on the path to this year's championship in the Peach Belt Conference held at Lander University in South Carolina. The CSU Cougars are competing against eleven other teams from universities in the region for this title. The Peach Belt Conference on Esports is centered on the game “League Of Legends,” a team-based strategy game where two teams of five face off to destroy the other’s base.

Practice makes perfect for this team, as winning can require a lot of time working with each other. Reener

shows dedication to the team’s perfection, holding practice every week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Davidson hall, with the weekends reserved for competitions.

The area of practice and competition for the Cougars is known as the Gigabit+ gaming room. This room has been financially backed by the team’s proud supporter Medicom; they have created an entire room in Davidson that is made specifically for gaming. CSU provides the team with the location in Davidson, as well as transportation and attire to make the team stand out amongst other Esport players.

The Esport Cougars are currently through the rankings this year. The team of Cougars are competing for prizes and scholarships in the collegiate Starleague to help pay for their tuition and educational needs. Reener stated that the team has plans to grow in the near future to include an additional seven players. This will increase the capabilities of the team, allowing them to further their success here at CSU. Students can follow the team on these platforms: Twitch: CsuEsport Facebook: Csu Esports Team Students interested in getting involved can email renner_sharan@columbusstate.edu.