After weeks of practicing, the competition is about to become real for a new Grandview Heights High School team.
The school’s new esports team is scheduled to participate in its first competition with games March 9 and 10.
The squad will be taking part in the seven-week spring season held by Esports Ohio, a free-to-join educational nonprofit esports organization and league created by teachers for students.
«We’re sort of jumping into the unknown. We don’t know yet how good we’ll be in actual competition until we start playing games against other schools,» said Joe Hecker, an English teacher serving as the team advisor.
More than 100 schools participate in the league, Hecker said. Among other central Ohio schools listed on the Esports Ohio website as playing in the fall and/or spring seasons are New Albany, Olentangy, Pickerington North, Reynoldsburg and Worthington Kilbourne.
«We had students who had expressed interest in esports and since we moved into the new school building this year we have more access to the type of technology we need to compete in esports,» Hecker said.
The high school is operating out of the new Larson Middle School building while the high school is closed for renovations.
The students are using a new laptop gaming system and hold practices several times a week during lunch period in Hecker’s classroom.
Grandview will compete in two games each week – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Wednesdays and Valorant on Thursdays.
«The games are held after school, and we don’t have to travel anywhere to participate. We just use the gaming system, Hecker said.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a best-of-five series pitting individual players from each team in each round. During an eight-minute round, each player has three stocks («lives») and the first to lose all three stocks loses the round.
Valorant is a shooter game pitting five players from both teams.
«The two teams go against each other to earn points. You have to have the proper team synergy and communication to do well,» said junior Ian White, who is captain for the Valorant team.
White said he enjoys the collaborative nature of Valorant, which can be different than a lot of video games played as an individual.
«Playing as a team requires a lot more performance of skill and strategy than playing at home,» he said. «Like any team you’re learning how to work together with your teammates toward the same goal.»
The esports team has given him a chance to play video games with others he might not have connected with, White said.
Esports is growing in popularity, not only for participants, but for the increasing number spectators watching national and world competitions, Hecker said.
«There are actual skills players are developing, a type of athletic skill that they are developing,» he said. «An esports league is a way to recognize that and to give students who share a common interest a chance to come together to explore that interest.»
The district purchased 12 gaming laptops for esports «for their portability and because we didn’t have the space to dedicate to desktops,» Chief Technology Officer Chris Deis said.
In all, the district spent $13,799.88, Deis said. That included $5,656.61 of general funds and $8,143.27 from a grant fund that was specified for technology purchases.
Hecker is volunteering, but if esports becomes established, it could lead to a paid coaching position, he said.
There is no cost for the students to participate.
In that way, esports is like any other athletics squad, Hecker said.
About 10 students are regular participants, Hecker said.
Other team members include freshmen Ben Carini, Liam Gerdes, Porter Knouff, Kevin Markle, Seamus McCormick, William Ramming and Rishi Shinde; sophomore Steven Chordas; and senior Jonathan Davis.
«We’re really getting excited as we’re getting closer to playing competitively,» White said. «We’re eager to see how we do.»
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