Photo of the Esports arena, provided by Shu_egriffins.
Written by: Lizzy Kubancek
In the start of 2022, Seton Hill initiated the Esports program for gaming enthusiasts, a dynamic organization playing a variety of games, including “Overwatch,” “Super Smash Bros,” “Rocket League,” and “League of Legends.”
This fall season, Esports ran from September through November, competing against schools like the University of New Haven, Marietta College, Drexel University, and Robert Morris University. Junior Esports captain, Jana Skowvron, describes the team as a “welcoming community that will help and teach you” the ropes.
Senior Captain Jack Wagner described the Esports organization as “welcoming.” He said, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you play…once you compete and have fun doing it, everyone feels included. Doesn’t matter if you’re playing on the starting roster or jv, everyone here is treated the same.”
According to Skowvron, a common struggle the Esports team faces is that it’s “misunderstood as a sport,” she added, “oftentimes it is seen as, oh, it’s not a real sport because you aren’t physically exerting yourself. But I think the difference is the amount of mental cognition required to play these games for hours at a time and at a high level.”
In past years, the team has shown a slight struggle with getting students to join the team. “You’ll talk to students on campus and they’ll be like yeah I’ve played games…and tell them about what the program has and they’re like oh no and they worry they aren’t good enough for it,” said Skowvron.
According to Coach Ryan Dzurko, “The community is growing larger as (gaming) has become more prevalent in the mainstream…and we’re more highly accepted in culture.”
Sophomore player, Ella Kohan, discusses how she has found joy in joining the Esports scene. “I have never found people who enjoy Overwatch as much as I do,” said Kohan. “It’s something I’m very passionate about…I really enjoy that there are other people who are as passionate about it as I am.”
Students interested in more information or joining the Esports team can reach out to Head Coach Christopher Sanders via email. Others interested in following and supporting the team can connect with them via Instagram and X @shu_egriffins and watch live streams of competitions on Twitch @shu_egriffins.