E-SPORTS EMERGES
NEW CLUB INTRODUCED, OFFERS STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN VIRTUAL Did you know that HSE has an E-Sports team? It is not common knowledge yet because the Fall of 2021 was their fi rst season. The E-Sports program here at HSE has two seasons a year with one in the Fall and the other in the Spring and during both of those seasons they compete in both a state and national league. Sophomore Chase Baker, the captain of the Rocket League team, gave some insight about how the team operates throughout the season. “There is only two or three [meetings] per semester,” Baker said. “We basically go over general information about what the season will look like.” Outside of those meetings there are also games that happen throughout the week that vary on frequency based on which games you participate in. The leagues that HSE operates with has many to choose from as long as the schools team meets the player requirement. The game options are Rocket League, NBA2K22, Halo, Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends, Valorant, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Freshman Cole Womack, who participates in the Rocket League, Valorant and League of Legends teams, shared his process with joining the team. “I was on the website for our school and randomly found it,” Womack said.
There is a phrase in [Robots] that I have started to live by ever since I saw [the movie that goes] ‘see a need, fill a need.’
“It was really easy [to join the team], they were super open and welcome.” Keaton Squires, math teacher and E-Sports sponsor here at HSE, shared why he started up the team. “There is a phrase in [Robots] that I have started to live by ever since I saw [the movie that goes] ‘see a need, fi ll a need,’” Squires said. “I saw a need for this, so many high schools and colleges especially were starting to offer programs and scholarships and opportunities and money and success.” The E-Sports industry as a whole has grown exponentially over recent years. According to viewsonic.com, Computer related jobs have had the highest expected growth since 2014 by a long shot and E-Sports at the pro level is projected to overtake the NBA in views. There are over 200 Colleges in the US that altogether offer over $15 million in scholarships a year. Squires fi nds it important to give our students a chance for careers in the realm of E-Sports. “I don’t get it in a lot of ways but it’s a need for some of these kids, there is some kids in here [and] they want to design video games, this is what they want to do and compete,” Squires said. “So, I just want to create a system to springboard them towards that path, I want to make the opportunity available.” Squires himself has never been a competitive gamer but he understands
how impactful an E-Sports team could be for some of our students’ lives and has more than enough passion to help see it succeed. Squires also wants people to understand what the team is about. “This is more of a program because we are competing under the name of HSE High School against other high schools and we are competing for tournaments, we are competing for the championship, a state championship, a national championship,” Squires said. “If it’s something you are interested in just make sure you understand that it’s a competitive league and there are practices and games.” A lot goes into making a club that requires high quality equipment to perform at the highest level and Squires understands that. He aims for the club to be able to win some of the necessary equipment to make the program the best it can be. All matches that the team plays are streamed on Twitch for official recordkeeping, but it also means that enjoyers of E-sports have the opportunity to watch as well at their Twitch channel named HseEsports. The season for this year is already underway, so if you are interested try and fi nd some friends to start working with to make sure you are ready to go for the 2022-23 season. Story by Parker Farrand.
Information from Viewsonic.com
Keaton Squires, E-Sports Club Sponsor
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