Playing PC games, and learning about connection and communication, all in one! E-Sports, a short-term for electronic sports, is also known as video games, and Newton High School now has its very own E-Sports team.
The team was taken over by tech teacher, Chase Camarena five years ago, who is now the coach and advisor. He is also the computer teacher for freshmen and sophomores.
“I took over the club about five years ago, but there was no competitive team. We would only play for fun during club times and students would bring a lot of their equipment from home to play. In the past few years, we have been able to save funds and purchase equipment for my classroom,” Camarena said.
There is a class, a club, and a team. Justin Pilgrim, Zach Ruth, and Mal Thanchanmalis are some of the gamers that the club has to show.
“I was going through enrollment for my classes this year, and E-Sports was a new concept on there, and to be honest I thought it was going to be easy and fun, but I’m really glad that I did. It is a very fun and easy class, but it’s given me a lot of time to work on the games I play and improve,” senior Zach Ruth said.
The club consists of organized practice sessions where members are able to practice and improve their skills, learn new strategies, and develop teamwork and communication skills. Members of this club can participate in official tournaments that represent their club.
“I enjoy playing with the team, especially Smash Bros. Some of my better players, like Nery, have actually taught me about the game and how to improve my own skills,” Camarena said.
Sometimes, E-Sports can lead to a spot on a professional team with professional coaches who can get you paid for each game you win. There are even scholarships you get for being in an E-Sports club and being a good player. Successful E-sports clubs have the chance to compete in high-profile tournaments and gain exposure and recognition on a larger scale while earning a shared experience with their teammates.
“You can make more friends this way, I got closer to Nery and JKP,” Senior Mal Thamchanmalis said.
According to The Loadout, League of Legends, CS: GO and Dota 2 are widely considered to be the biggest E-Sports games. However, the term ‘biggest’ can be measured in many ways. Fortnite, for example, gives out millions of dollars for the Fortnite World Cup and attracts many viewers and new players to the game. Call of Duty brings out new teams, rosters, and a prize of $6 million. There are so many ways to earn scholarships and money all within the comfort of your home, or your own interests through gaming!
“A lot of different people play different kinds of video games, and a lot of those people don’t talk outside of video games. It gives them a chance to talk or hang out with people they don’t normally talk to, and find commonality that they normally wouldn’t find.” Camarena said.
