Students looking into playing video games competitively in a school setting need look no further. Electronic sports, also known as esports, is in the process of making its grand entrance at Brighton High School as a possible varsity sport.
According to the Michigan High Schools Esports Federation, esports teams within high schools offer a good way for students to build relationships and connect with their fellow peers as well as learn newfound job skills that will help them succeed in specific careers.
The Federation has people come to each game to look for recruiters for scholarships and job opportunities. The program offers students across Michigan the opportunity to come together and support one another in an activity they all enjoy.
For BHS, media specialist Kathryn Alfaro has advocated for the creation of an esports team ever since she has been at Brighton; however, it was thanks to the efforts of students that esports will finally come to BHS this year
“I was the esports manager at my previous district, and I had some students who were very interested in starting one, and they knew I was a gamer and thought it was a natural fit to ask me to start it up,” Alfaro said.
Alfaro went on to explain why the club was such a hit at her old school. “They formed great friendships; even though they were not necessarily in the same friendships [or] groups of cliques, they all had this strong bond and friendship. So when I came here, one of the things I was curious about is, do we have an esports team?” Alfaro said.
Alfaro has begun to work on creating the club, starting with a Google Classroom that gives students information about the program they will be using for the upcoming season. Students can join with the Classroom code KXH4XWL.
Alfaro said that the esports team will be open to all students regardless of skill level.
“So we would want someone to join who is not only interested in the game, but people who are the best of the best and people who necessarily are not,” she said. “As long as you’re willing to improve, just like with anything in life.”
The program is also coed, which means any student—male or female—is allowed to participate.
The program has lots of games in store for the season, including popular games such as Apex Legends, College Football 25, League of Legends, Overwatch Two, Smash Solo and Smash Crews, Rocket League, Rainbow Sixiege and more. Students can join the club either specializing in these specific games or grow to become better with them as the season progresses.
The overall purpose of the Esports Club at Brighton High School is for students to find their place and make new friendships and bond over a shared interest. Students do not have to be the best, but giving it a try is the main hope Alfaro has for the student body.
