American schools are investing more and more in esports

More and more schools around the world have recognized that you can have a real career in esports and are now trying to encourage their students to do so. A public school in Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA has now invested in esports, and Mississippi’s Biloxi High School Esport Team has already outperformed other teams.

While the SDHSAA has yet to sanction esports, Aberdeen has invested in the activity with the hope that it will soon. A $15,000 grant from the Aberdeen Public Schools Foundation was matched by the district and the funds were used to purchase gaming gear.

School in Aberdeen focuses on esports

Last year, an esports club was formed at Aberdeen Central in South Dakota in hopes that the sport would soon be recognized as a competitive sport.

Camille Kaul, Aberdeen Assistant Superintendent, commented:

“This year, we did a pilot for esports, and we had about 20 students participate in that. We really were able to include students who may not have taken other activities. So, it was good to reach a different group of students this year.” 

The esports gear is designed to help integrate physical activity with intellectual sport.

Gretchen Sharp, Aberdeen Public Schools Foundation Executive Director, said:

“The funding is going toward purchasing some under-desk elliptical machines and stationary bikes and gaming chairs, so ergonomically correct, to help the esports team. They’re not just going to be sitting there, there’s some physical activity that goes along with it, a whole body experience for those gamers in the esports category.”

The esports lab will be set up at the ATEC Academy at Aberdeen Central High School. Sharp said the Aberdeen School District wants to give students as many opportunities as possible to explore their interests and potential career paths: 

“As a district, we think it’s really important to have students have a wide variety of experiences. We want to open their opportunities up to different careers for the future. By adding to our A-TEC facility, we’re able to do that.”

Biloxi High School esports team on course for success

The Biloxi High School esports team The Indians recently won the PlayVS State Championship, as well as a state game in 2022 and the fall title in esports. When the team was launched two years ago, it only had three players. Now it’s 30.

James Maxcey, esports coach at Biloxi said:

“I’ll be honest, a lot of the reaction is ‘what’s esports?’ That’s where we come in and tell them it’s competitive video games. They usually say all we’re doing is playing video games,” said James Maxcey, esports coach at Biloxi. “It’s not just that. We’re playing competitively against other schools. Yeah, we’re trying to have a good time, but we’re also trying to be the best, just like any traditional sport like football or soccer. We’re putting in hours of practice time, running scrimmages, and looking back on our game footage.”

Esports have been a high school sport in Mississippi since the 2018-19 school year. The Biloxi team is currently going through tryouts and is looking for team members to compete in six different games.

Esports coach Kristen Harris added:

“It’s been exciting to expand the organization from just a few players to include the people who are now banging on the door and want to know how they can get into esports.”

Header: @AberdeenCHS | Twitter