When most people think of “high school sports”, they tend to think of the big three: football, basketball, and baseball. Hailed as the sort of “money makers” for schools, they are the most popular, most profitable, and biggest high school sports in the country. However, they’re not the only ones, and while some of the smaller or lesser-known sports like volleyball, track, soccer, or tennis may not have the same grandiose nature as the “Big Three”, they are all absolutely deserving of garnering that same level of respect.
But there is another sport, one that most people aren’t even aware exists: Esports.
What is ESports?
To put it simply, Esports is competitive video games. Competitors (formed into teams) will attend tournaments to compete in their game of choice, with the most popular choices currently being things like Valorant, Marvel Rivals, and the timeless Super Smash Bros.
A New Kind of High School Sport
As the Esports scene has grown in general, it has begun to spread to the high school market, including here at LTHS. Recently, the Cavalier team took 1st place in the Region 13 state Marvel Rivals tournament and have since picked up teams for Rocket League, Valorant, and Fort Night who are competing in the regular season. “Our sight is set on the State Championship, “said Ethan Crouse, one of the Esports coaches at LT. “Practice is going well and our season started off with wins across the board.”
The Student Impact
The club has quickly become successful and received official recognition at school board meetings and notifications from administration, and current members are beginning to feel the effect of being recognized. “It’s about community,” said Jackson King, a sophomore at LTHS and Esports Club member. “Obviously, it’s a fun thing to go around and play video games, but really forming a bond with these guys I’m playing with – I think it improves our game substantially while also allowing us to have a lot more fun. The winning has been nice, and being able to contribute to this amazing school’s history of awards is an awesome feeling.”
Although many people question Esports being a legitimate high school sport, King disagrees. “Obviously, Esports is not taken as seriously as something like football for example. . . I think it is something that will grow over time and become more popular over time because it is FUN to watch,” King said. “There are tons of great moments, and I think it’s a great outlet to show off people’s skills without the obvious physical damages that come from sports like football. I think Esports will carve it’s own niche alongside sports such as football, without necessarily overtaking it.
To those who believe Esport athletes are often portrayed as lazy “couch potato”, King suggests “watch[ing] some compilations of the masters at work, listen to some announcers going crazy, and stop making assumptions without actually engaging with the media.”
Future Events
The Cavaliers will be competing at the State Marvel Rivals Tournament in April, and they are looking to make a big splash on the state stage. For more information on how to get involved, see the LTHS Club Website.
