Esports is a new club that was started in the fall semester of 2021. They encourage students of any gender to join as they all share their love for gaming, the advisor and coach is Ms. Torres. Not only is she the coach and advisor of the Esports club, but one of the teacher leaders of Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA), the class advisor for the Class of 2025, and the Yearbook advisor. 

          The Esports Club is open to middle school and high school, although students have to be 13 or older in order to compete in matches. Club members compete in games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart, Rocket League, and Splatoon 2. “We are hoping to compete in Overwatch, League of Legends, Madden 22, and Fortnite in the fall, and hopefully, add even more games after that,” said Ms. Torres. 

          Club members are provided with equipment that helps students practice and compete. The provided equipment is specific to the game that the student has chosen to play.  “We have top-of-the-line gaming PCs that can run all the major games like Rocket League, League of Legends, and Overwatch. Our Nintendo Switch consoles have Mario Kart, Smash, and Splatoon,” Ms. Torres said. She hopes to get more equipment, such as switches, Pro controllers, PlayStation, and Xbox controllers. 

          Bryan Meneses, a freshman who joined the club when it first started, is one of the many players that get to use a Nintendo switch.  He heard about the Esports club from Ms. Torres, at the time it was simply an idea, but it struck his interest as gaming has been a strong partial passion for Bryan. He plays Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, he specifically chose these games based on experience and his comfort level. Meneses believes that joining the Esports club has improved his time management skills along with learning gaming tactics. He recommends and encourages people to join the Esports club. “You don’t even need much experience. We’re always looking for members. No matter how much experience you have,” Meneses says. 

          New members like Roman Campos, a 7th grader who has never joined a club are curious to know what it is like. He plays Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart, and Splatoon 2. As a new member and a new competitor in the club he faces challenges such as going up against players with more experience, but he continues to practice when he has free time to improve his skills and continues to have fun with his friends. Campos would strongly recommend people to join his club to those who are fully committed to the sport.

          Another addition to the Esports club, Karina Cabrera, a junior, was inspired to join the club for her love of gaming and more specifically the Splatoon 2 game. One of her main goals is to have fun and win as many games as she can throughout the season. “Absolutely and most definitely would recommend the Esports club to other people… It’s a great way to bond with other people and can serve as a pretty great escape from school life,” said Cabrera.

          Since the start of last season, the club’s popularity has grown. There were three Smash teams and a Rocket League team, which brought the club total to 12 players compared to this season where the club now has six Smash teams, two Rocket League teams, a Mario Kart team, and a Splatoon 2 team. Thus bringing the club total to 37 players! “Keep an eye out on Esports as it keeps growing,” said Ms.Torres. For anyone interested in joining the Esports club students can talk to Ms.Torres, she is in room 5-206. Students do have to be 13 and older to compete and if students are inexperienced and interested in a game there is so much support, provided by Ms. Torres and club members, to help students succeed and have fun.