Westminster Launches

First Esports Team

In 2021, Westminster formed its first ever competitive esports team, expanding the already robust list of sports offered by Westminster Athletics. The new program quickly garnered attention among the Warrior community after placing second in the State in Rocket League, a vehicular soccer video game, only a year after its launch. Omar Valerio, Westminster’s chief information and technology officer, serves as the team’s director and coach along with Spencer Swindoll.

“It’s been great seeing students learn, come out of their shell and have fun. Esports is a very inclusive program because it doesn’t require traditional athletic abilities and provides generally timid students the opportunity to be a part of a team,” said Valerio.

The world of esports consists of competitive, organized video gaming leagues that require extensive skills in teamwork and communication. It’s an industry that is continuously growing and is represented in all 50 states. Currently, over 100 universities and colleges have a varsity esports program, which is governed by the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). Westminster’s team is part of the PlayVS High School Esports League, a platform for amateur esports competitions.

“People may be surprised to know that esports is a great foundation for a wide range of careers such as analytics, programming and production. I’ve seen students gain many valuable skills while on the team and am excited to see what they accomplish after high school,” added Valerio.

At Westminster, a room in the MS/HS Media Center has been remodeled to fit the needs of the team. Team sponsors, Lenovo and Dade Technology Solutions, provided much of the equipment needed, including gaming desks and chairs.

“We are very grateful to our sponsor, the school and Westminster Athletics for the support they have demonstrated to this team. We believe this is an exceptional opportunity and resource for our students,” said Valerio.