Game On: SoWashCo Online's Esport Team

SoWashCo Online High School is leveling up by adding esports as an extracurricular activity for students. The esports club was founded this past fall by sophomore Justina Nguyen, who takes a hybrid of classes at SoWashCo Online and in-person at Woodbury High School. 

“I wanted to create an inviting space where people can grow their skills,” said Justina. 

Esports, short for electronic sports, are competitions playing multiplayer video games. Anyone enrolled in at least one course with SoWashCo Online is eligible to join the esports club. The club is for students who want to explore esports gaming and to develop a team that will compete in official esports tournaments. 

The team currently consists of five main players and two alternates who also serve as coaches. They focus on competitive hero video games such as Valorant, a popular futuristic free-to-play game.

The team hosts scrimmages and the team coaches then review the players’ performances and create playbooks with suggestions for improvement.

The team learns not only how to improve their gameplay but also how to navigate online spaces.

“They are learning through experiences how to handle online disagreements or situations,” said Michelle Grubs, the team’s advisor. “Teens will continue to encounter these virtual interactions more and more and need to practice the skills to navigate them maturely.”

The team is set to compete in the High School Esports League (HSEL) Spring Major. Playoff tournaments are live-streamed online by HSEL. 

“I like that we can play together in our own spaces and still have a community,” said Justina.