LT’s eSports to compete at national level

LT’s eSport club, which formed last year, qualified for the final match in the Overwatch division. LT’s Varsity Overwatch is ranked as one of the top two high school teams in the nation after beating out more than 57 high schools in the Midwest.

LT’s Overwatch team took first in Illinois and Midwest divisions, which placed them in the finals against 15 other top ranked teams across the nation. After winning their Semifinal match this Saturday, they moved on to the Grand Finals which will be tonight at 6pm.

The Overwatch Team includes:

Captain: Sean Swainson, Senior (LaGrange Park)

Grace McGann, Senior (LaGrange)

Cass Weber, Senior (LaGrange)

James Bell, Freshman (Countryside)

Ben Racelis, Senior (Western Springs)

Erik Westegaard, Senior (LaGrange)

Matt Sagols, Senior (LaGrange)

Alex Jamyz, Substitute

Esports, which stands for electronic sports, entails students competing against other high schools in team and solo based video games. All the video games have objectives that require team work, communication and skills that make students marketable to colleges and employers.

Students compete in the High School eSports League (HSEL). This league provides students a chance to compete against other high schools of various levels to win scholarship money. Winning teams are paid in scholarship money, dispersed to a student’s HSEL account in “varsity points;” each point is worth a dollar amount. At the end of their high school career, students can cash out their varsity points for a scholarship check made out to their school of choosing.

According to eSports club sponsor Josh Nabasny, “eSports students gain communication skills, participate in team building exercises and create lifelong friends with people they may have never met if it wasn’t for the club. My hope is to create an environment that allows students to be themselves and to be proud of something they are good at.”

In these competitions, the teams connect to servers run by HSEL at a set match time. A match can last up to an hour in order to choose a victor. Each game requires the gamer to complete an objective to win and move on in their division. Each game requires focus, practice and game knowledge that the LT eSports teams acquire throughout the season and school year.

LT’s eSports club is active on chat clients which allows students to connect with other gaming athletes, set up scrimmage matches and connect with college representatives. By participating in various leagues and local tournaments, students have the ability to win scholarships. Many colleges have added eSports programs and continue to view eSports as a real sport and not just a hobby.