It wasn’t a tournament as robust as the one in 2019 before COVID-19 halted major gatherings in smallish spaces, but this year’s Season 1 finals of the Desert Valley Esports Alliance (DEVA) was exciting all the same. While most team supporters and Esports fans watched the action via livestream, the members of the four teams that were able to compete in the finals last month put on a great show and made their schools proud.
PSUSD launched the esports program locally about three years ago with the first DEVA championship competition held in May of 2019. Due to COVID championships were not held last year. And this year’s Season 1 final included only the top two teams at the high school level and top two teams at the middle school level to maintain health and safety protocols and as much social distancing as possible.
“Due to COVID, we wanted to keep the numbers small,” said Director of Educational Technology and Information Services Will Carr. “The two teams from each sport with the best record played in the finals.”
Palm Springs High emerged victorious over Cathedral City High in the League of Legends competition finals, and Rancho Mirage High defeated Palm Springs High in Super Smash Brothers. At the middle school level Nellie N. Coffman beat Cielo Vista Charter in the Super Smash Brothers league competition, but the CVC Eagles emerged victorious in the non-league “friendly” competition demo of League of Legends.
During the live stream, PSUSD administrators and Esports coaches shared thoughts, strategies and encouraging words with the athletes and the more than 400 spectators watching on their devices outside of the District Service Center where the competitors gamed against each other. Those who missed the livestream can catch all the again on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h6q2Acys5M&t=12920s.
“Like any other scholar athletes, we are so super proud of our Esports athletes at our PSUSD schools,” commented Supt. of Schools Dr. Mike Swize during the livestream event. “We want to give you the very, very best and that includes your coaches and equipment and tournaments like this. I’m so proud to be a part of this district and to be involved in something as amazing as this.”
Season 2 competition runs Jan. 20 through April 1 culminating with another finals competition later in April or early May. Carr noted that the Esports program has been very well received by participants, coaches and schools including those outside of PSUSD.
“DVEA is primarily PSUSD schools,” said Carr. “However, DSUSD and CVUSD had had various schools scrimmage with us and want to join DVEA. (Esports) is one of the best programs in the district. It’s another way to get kids connected and give them a voice. It is an avenue to college and higher education as well.”
Many colleges already offer Esports scholarships to outstanding athletes in this arena with more and more opportunities becoming available each year. Carr said the district plans to bring Esports down to the elementary level at some fashion in the future. Swize added that elementary students are gaining skills in other technology-related areas as well.
“I definitely want our elementary students to be exposed to as much technology as possible; anything that involves creative problem solving and cooperation and really lets them know what lies ahead for them in middle school, high school, college and beyond,” said Swize adding that some of the programs that have begun and will be expanded at the elementary level include robotics and coding in addition to esports. “We have a great team (leading the effort at the district level), and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Joan Boiko is the Coordinator of Communications & Community Outreach for the Palm Springs Unified School District. She may be reached at (760) 883-2701, ext. 2 or email jboiko@psusd.us
