COMPETING — The Indian Creek High School Esports team is in its fourth year of online competition in hopes of attending the finals at the University of Akron in June. Practicing are, from left, seniors Adam Belisle, Philip Birtel, Gage Simmons and Tanner Johnson. — Contributed
WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek High School students with a penchant for gaming are squaring off against other schools through the Esports program.
Now in its fourth year, the school team is coached by interactive media teacher Dave Moffat and is part of the Ohio Esports League. About 30 to 40 freshmen through seniors participate and some have scrimmaged and played against schools across the state in games including “Valorant,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Overwatch.”
The group gathers on Tuesday to Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. to practice and compete with the hope of making it to the final tournament at the University of Akron Sports Arena in June. Competitions are held on Tuesday and Wednesday with Thursday spent practicing for spring teams, but anyone who simply enjoys playing for the day is also welcome. He commented that three teams will play in five of the seven organized games with “Smash” in the fall and spring league and “Rocket League” and “Valorant” in the spring league. So far, they have taken on teams including Steubenville, Delaware, John Glenn, Worthington Christian and Grandview Heights and have the opportunity to go to the regionals and quarterfinals.
“We have a varsity team for ‘Smash’ for fall,” Moffat said. “There are five members and three alternates, and we’re working on two other teams for the spring league. There is a varsity and junior team with six members in the ‘Rocket League’ and five members for ‘Valorant.’”
Interest in Esports, which stands for electronic sports, has spiked across the United States and gives youth opportunities to compete through organized, multi-player videogame contests. Moffat said the program began when a student sought to create a coding and gaming club and he realized it was a growing national trend. When COVID shut down schools in 2020, it did not impact the games since they were played online. Moffat said it also quelled social anxieties prompted by the pandemic and helped youth remain in communication, plus it gave them chances to play in regional and sectional matchups.
Students play using Switch or in a PC format and communicate with their competitors. An added bonus is that other students can watch the competition and scrimmages were displayed in the open area outside the classrooms at the new school building.
“It’s grown. Now we have an arena to project what they are doing onto the collaborative space so people can watch. They had one scrimmage where middle schoolers had a chance to watch. The team won their first scrimmage against a school in Cincinnati playing in a one-to-one battle game.”
Additionally, gaming could pay off through scholarships and college-level competitions. Roughly 20 universities across the state compete in games sanctioned through the North America Scholastic Esports Federation, which provides opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire critical communication and problem-solving skills to aid them at work and in everyday living.
Several players said they really enjoy being part of the action.
“I love it,” said senior Tanner Johnson, who has participated since his freshman year. “I am actually getting something out of it.”
Johnson said he may pursue opportunities in college.
“It’s great,” added senior Gage Simmons. “The fact that I can do this and have fun is nice.”