Game controllers in hand, students in the Video Games Club watch as their Super Smash Bros Ultimate characters dash across the screen. Soon playing games like this could become a sport at PHS.
English teacher Jamieson Mockel, Athletic Director Tyler Small, and Principal David Yoshihara have been collaborating to create an esports club for PHS students. With esports recently recognized as a sport by the Collegiate Interscholastic Federation (CISF), there is growing optimism that PHS will soon offer an official team, possibly with both junior varsity and varsity levels. Although nothing has been finalized yet, the interest is palpable.
Mockel said that while there is still uncertainty about how the program will take shape, schools across the country are already competing in esports under new guidelines from the College Board. If the esports team is formed at PHS, students could participate in weekly online matches and potentially travel to tournaments.
“I’m really excited about the possibility,” Mockel said.
Students, too, are excited about the possibilities.
“I’ve competed in League of Legends before at a summer camp, and my team won,” said Video Games Club member freshman Kaia Luna. “I’m really excited to do something like that again if it happens at PHS.”
The structure of the club is expected to mirror traditional sports teams with regular practices, tournaments, and possible bids to higher-level competitions.
“Esports would likely count for sports credits,” Yoshihara said.
Yoshihara said that the video games under consideration include Super Smash Bros Ultimate, League of Legends, and Rocket League.
Freshman Peter Farrar said he is enthusiastic about Video Games Club and the possibility of esports at PHS.
“I would most likely compete in [Super] Smash [Bros] Ultimate. I don’t have any formal competitive experience, but I always destroy my friends at [Super] Smash [Bros Ultimate]. I get first place every time,” Farrar said.
As esports gains popularity across high schools nationwide, more than 8,600 schools have launched their own teams since the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) officially recognized esports in 2018.
“I’m a really big fan of the idea,” said Vice President of the Video Games Club junior Bodie Ironside. “It lets people shine in areas they have worked hard to get to. If you’re on an esports team, it means you’ve worked hard to get there.”
As PHS prepares for this new chapter, student interest will play a crucial role. For now, the proposed esports team remains in the planning stages, but the enthusiasm for the team at PHS is already garnering traction.
