By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
GREAT BEND — When Curtis Rose graduated college in 2011, he never thought the video gaming industry would expand into the college scene. He spent seven years working as Barton Community College’s multimedia and instructional designer. When the college in Great Bend started tossing around the idea of adding eSports, Rose knew he wanted to be involved.
Two years into the program and Barton eSports has claimed two national championships. Rose said he looks for gamers in a similar fashion as other coaches.
«You want someone that is coachable and that listens,» said Rose. «Just playing video games a lot can make you a good player, but it doesn’t make you a good teammate. It’s a team-based game…so you have to be a good teammate as well.»
Just under 30 eSports players were part of the Barton program this past semester. Just like any other sport, there are scholarship opportunities for the students depending on their skill level and commitment.
«Sometimes I’ll find someone who wasn’t necessarily thinking about college, but plays a lot of video games,» said Rose. «Sometimes they will reach out to me. Then, it’s just a discussion to make sure they are the right fit and that they know what they are getting themselves into. It’s not just playing video games. You’re a student first and play the games second.»
When recruiting, Rose said he looks at the players’ recorded highlights and also compares statistics to see where they rank across the country.
Copyright © 2022 Hays Post – Powered byEagle Radio
