Students at T.C. Roberson High’s (TCR) E-Sports club got to tour UNC Asheville’s new ESports facility, to get a glimpse into a potential future college life.
ESports, or Electronic Sports, is competitive, usually team-based, online video gaming. These games can be played in a very similar way to regular sports, with team coaches honing skills, teammates coming together to hash out strategies and tactics, and even big tournaments with large prize pools. Colleges increasingly want to recruit Esports students not just because of the potential for tournaments but because of the skills they learn while playing, said Nicholas Braylan, assistant director of Esports and sports at UNCA.
“These are students that are committed,” he said. “Winning is one thing, but showing up every day, learning from your mistakes, taking criticism, mentorship, growth, determination. These are all things Esports kids have, and things colleges want.”
And colleges increasingly are learning the value of Esports as a competitive sport, as evidenced by the new Esports facility at UNCA, housed directly in the sports building and full with new Alienware gaming PCs and professional racing simulator rigs. Students at TCR know this, too. One student from the ESports team has already scored a $24,000 scholarship to Bethany college to play on their Overwatch team, and other students have taken tours of colleges that have shown interest. Taking the trip to UNCA, the TCR team got to see first-hand how Esports is slowly becoming a big player in college considerations.
“Esports is a door that allows students who typically don't have community or don’t have an interest in athletics to have that community and broaden their horizon,” said English teacher and Esports coach Lacie Jones. “It requires communication skills, leadership skills, time management skills, and sportsmanship. These are things that if you’re playing a team sport, whether in real life or a video game, are life skills that apply to both.”
Despite only being in its second year, the Esports team at TC Roberson, one of the first at BCS, is very popular.
“Last year, we had about as many students try out as the football team gets - about 60,” said science teacher and coach Trent Wharton. “We hope to get more computers for the school, and open up the amount of games we’re able to play and compete in. Students want to be a part of something, and this gives them the chance to still play for their school. School spirit and camaraderie are a big part of it.”