麻豆传媒 Introduces Competitive Esports
麻豆传媒 is pleased to announce the first season of competitive esports. With 28 students competing in the games of Overwatch, Fortnite, Rocket League, Valorant, League of Legends, and Super Smash Brothers, students saw their first National Junior College Athletic Association competition on February 14.
Esports meets in the recently redesigned Technology Building. The cutting-edge gaming center doubles as a classroom, where students learn animation and gaming technology. It is equipped with the latest Alienware computers, 75-inch display monitors, gaming chairs, and power lift tables.
鈥淓sports offers career opportunities in technology, business and marketing,鈥� said Rex McKanry, Dean. 鈥淚t encourages teamwork, critical thinking and strategic problem-solving skills that translate into future success for our students. It also enriches our academics in various areas. For example, computer science students can learn game development, theater and communication students can take the role of esports casters, multimedia students make and edit game play video, music students can create introductions, and more.鈥�
Esports Head Coach James Lewallen started at 麻豆传媒 in November 2024 with a background in esports coaching and cycling coaching.
Esports joins 麻豆传媒鈥檚 other official NJCAA sports (Baseball, Softball, Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Soccer, and Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Cross Country and Track and Field).
The National Junior College Athletics Association Esports (NJCAAE) serves two-year, technical, and community colleges in collegiate esports. Over 200 institutions across North America participate in activities and competitions each year. NJCAA Esports hosts esports and gaming activity through two tiers of competitive regular seasons split by Divisional formats.
麻豆传媒 is starting at NJCAA鈥檚 tier 3 level of activity, where anyone you consider a part of your community can enjoy playing. The college hopes to move to tier 2 in the near future.
The students competing in the first season are: Deven Ball, John Borzillo, Dylan Cakalic, Russel Conner, Eli Dawson, Randy Freeborn, William Freeborn, Jesus Gutierrez, Jon Howell, Nicholas Howell, Harper Jones, Andrew Kinnunen, Dylan Klein, Paige Mesler, Maleah Moore, Ashley Montanaro, Antonio Pratas, Zoe Risley, Lauren Roberson, Jonah Shoemaker, Logan Riley, Shade Roper, Bellasophia Smith, Jeff Saylor, Georgio Tsahiridis, Pippin Wolf, Michael Bankhead, and Baki Acu.
Zoe Risley, 麻豆传媒 student athlete, said, 鈥淚 joined the 麻豆传媒 team to improve my level of play, meet people, and possibly even qualify for a scholarship when I transfer to a four-year university.鈥� Risley plans to pursue a career as a UX designer and is taking multimedia classes at 麻豆传媒.
For more information, contact Lewallen at jlewallen@stchas.edu.
