From their personal experiences to the gaming culture at West High, members of the esports club share about all things gaming. BY CAROLINE CHANDLER & ROSEMARY TIMMER-HACKERT ART & DESIGN BY XIAOYI ZHU
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SPORTS DEC. 18, 2020
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ith the thrill of securing a win in mind, esports members know a thing or two about laser sharp focus. Only the slightest slip-up could cost their team victory. The dreams of many West High gamers became a reality in early 2020 when the long anticipated esports club was created. The club allows prospective gamers to play alongside their classmates and compete against others schools while fine-tuning their talents and love for gaming. Video games have always been a part of junior Miranda Feng’s life. However, upon joining the esports club, her perspective on the validity of spending time gaming has shifted. In the current circumstances, she has found video games to be a comforting way to keep up with her friends in a virtual setting. “It’s kind of different because usually video games have this reputation of being bad for you and a waste of time,” Feng said. “[But] I think it has really been a way for me to be able to spend time with friends [and] meet new friends … It’s been a way to relax and kind of get away from life for a little bit.” Feng plays “League of Legends” competitively with the esports club. To play casually with friends, she started a Discord server called West High League. The server has since expanded to include popular games the esports club does not play competitively, such as“Among Us” and “Minecraft.” In January, former Principal Dr. Gregg Shoultz held a meeting to gauge potential interest in the club. Librarian Jill Hofmockel witnessed the meeting from her office. While students had approached her about starting the club before, this was the first time she saw how much support there was for the club within the student body. “There was so much excitement in that room, and the kids were so animated,” Hofmockel said. “A few days later, maybe the next morning even, [Shoultz] stopped by the library … I said I would help, and then within a couple of days it became ‘Okay, you’re going to be the sponsor.’” Hofmockel registered West High with the Iowa High School Esports Association in February. Although it was too late for the team to join the events for the rest of the school year, they were still able to participate in scrimmages. The team